Rugby players in a scrum, wearing green and white striped jerseys, engaged in a game on a grassy field with spectators and parked cars in the background.

our club

70+ years of rugby.

A community built on respect, camaraderie, and competition.

The Toronto Saracens RFC was established in the early 1950s, formed from players branching out from the Toronto Irish, Nomads, and Barbarians – all clubs that had an overabundance of talent at the time. Back then, games were played at High Park, and after matches, the team would visit local pubs in and around the area. It was in one of those establishments (not too sure which one) that the Toronto Saracens Rugby Football Club was conceived.

Formally established in 1954, the Saracens have won the Carling Cup twice (1959 and 1977), the Pony Bowl (1982), and the Old Vienna Cup (Marshall Trophy) (1983). We are one of the original investors in Fletcher's Fields – known as the "Home of Ontario Rugby.”

THE REBUILD

After the pandemic disrupted play in 2020, the Toronto Saracens embarked on a rebuild in 2023. What started as a small group of committed players has grown into one of Toronto's fastest-growing rugby clubs

In just two years, we've gone from rebuilding to 2024 ORU Champions, fielding two teams, and recruiting over 55 players from around the world. We're not just bringing back a club – we're building a community.

This is Year 3. And we're just getting started.

A group of soccer players in green jerseys huddle together on a field, arms around each other's shoulders, moment of team unity.
Aerial view of a farm with fields labeled 'Saracens,' 'Barbarians,' 'Nomads,' 'Irish,' 'Union,' and 'Scottish,' with roads and structures nearby.

Fletcher's Fields

During its nearly six decades, Fletcher's hosted national and international matches, including Canada test matches against Argentina, England, Ireland, Japan, USA, and Wales. It was home to numerous competitive rugby clubs and became a gathering place for a community brought together by their love of the game.

A group of dedicated rugby enthusiasts convinced five clubs and Rugby Ontario to come together and create a hub that embodied the core values of rugby: camaraderie, friendship, and mutual respect. It was a place where teams shared not just competition, but moments of connection with people from all walks of life forming lifelong bonds on and off the field.

THE LEGACY

For many families, it was a second home, where kids grew up with the fields as their weekend playground, running on the sidelines and watching their parents compete until they were old enough to join the game themselves.

Fletcher's Fields closed its doors in 2024, marking the end of an era. But its legacy endures as a reminder of what rugby stands for: a sense of belonging, inclusion, and community. When rugby players pull together, we can accomplish anything.

Although we no longer play at Fletcher's Fields, its spirit lives on in every match, every shared drink after a game, and every story told about what made that place special. It's not just about the beer (okay, maybe one), but about what it represents: play hard on the field, and five minutes later, sit down and share a moment. That's what makes rugby special.

That legacy remains deeply rooted in our club's identity as we carry its spirit forward into new chapters.

A new chapter at Sunnybrook

Fletcher's Fields shaped us. For decades it was where the Saracens trained, played, won, lost, and grew up. After it closed its doors in 2024, it left a gap no single pitch can replace. We'll always be grateful for it.

Sunnybrook Park is where we write the next chapter: a new home in the middle of the city, with families and supporters minutes away and a clubhouse mentality that travels with us wherever we go.

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Meet the Team

  • A man with short dark hair, wearing a black pinstripe suit and a white dress shirt, sitting outdoors against a concrete wall.

    President

    Gord Morgan

  • A young man with short black hair wearing a navy blue suit and white shirt, smiling at the camera, against a plain gray background.

    VP Finance

    Kevin Leung

  • A young man in formal black tuxedo with a bow tie and white pocket square, smiling at the camera, standing indoors with blurred greenery in the background.

    VP Admin

    Abdel Emaadawi

  • A smiling man in a suit and green tie standing indoors with curtains in the background.

    Director-at-Large

    Steve Townend

  • A young man in a dark blue suit, white dress shirt, and plaid tie posing in front of a plain light gray background. He has short brown hair and a beard, and he is smiling.

    Director-at-Large

    Giorgi Sharabidze

  • A middle-aged man with light skin and brown hair, wearing glasses, a black suit, a white shirt, and a green striped tie, standing indoors in front of beige curtains.

    Director-at-Large

    Fred Burton

  • A man with gray hair wearing a black suit, light blue dress shirt, and a paisley tie, smiling against a dark, cloudy background.

    Director-at-Large

    Brian Smith

  • Portrait of a young man with curly hair wearing a business suit, white shirt, and red tie against a gray background.

    Club Captain Men's

    Ethan Casemore

  • A man with short curly dark hair and light skin wearing a white and green sports jersey with logos, facing the camera against a plain gray background.

    Equipment Manager

    Joe Bettelli

  • Close-up of a smiling man wearing a black collared shirt with a Toronto Saracens Rugby Club logo on the left chest, standing in front of a screen displaying a logo.

    Dir. Jr. Development

    Mike Lende

  • Young woman with long dark hair smiling at camera, wearing a white shirt and necklace, against a gray background.

    Communications

    Charlotte Hoskins

  • Close-up of a young man with brown hair, wearing a light-colored, short-sleeved button-up shirt, smiling against a plain gray background.

    Social Convenor

    Lukas Campbell

  • A man wearing a suit and tie, posing for a professional portrait in an office setting.

    Director of Rugby

    Sheldon Persad

  • A young Asian man in a formal suit and white shirt looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression in an indoor setting with blurred background.

    Recruitment Officer

    Ian Custadillo

WHAT WE PLAY FOR

01
Community

02
Inclusivity

03
effort

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Our COACHES

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Sheldon Persad

Head Coach, Director of Rugby Operations
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Drew Macpherson

Associate Coach
A man smiling wearing a black collared shirt with a logo that reads 'Toronto Saracens Rugby Club' with a maple leaf and rugby ball design, standing in front of a presentation screen.

Michael Lende

Assistant Coach
A smiling man in a dark green polo shirt with the logo of Toronto Saracens Rugby Club. Behind him, there is a projected logo of Toronto Rugby on the wall.

Carl Lewis

Video Analysis Coach