REGINA, Sask. (February 19, 2013) — What started as a low-key initiative by a group of rugby enthusiasts with a penchant for travel, and giving back to the community, has rapidly evolved into a club that has seen over 300 players pull on a Dog River Howlers jersey and compete in tournaments across the world, while also taking a lead role in raising over $500,000 for worthwhile causes – all in six short years.
“There was no master plan to achieve what we have been able to accomplish in a relatively short time period,” says Karl Fix, Dog River Howlers founder and club president. “The idea was to create a touring side that would play some rugby and give back to our communities. People have really embraced the concept and the results say it all.”
The Dog River Howlers began in 2007 with a men’s team travelling to Cuba. Since that ambitious start, the Howlers have added a women’s side and a youth program that has fielded under-18 and under-16 teams. Howler teams play in elite-level sevens rugby tournaments, and several players that have represented the Howlers have gone on to earn spots playing for Canada in fifteens and sevens rugby.
“We have certainly experienced success on the pitch, which is represented by our record in tournament competition and the number of Howler players that have gone on to play for Canada’s national team programs,” says Fix. “Of much greater importance are the philanthropic efforts of the club.
“We have supported over 70 important causes, some of which have been linked to rugby and many others that are non-rugby opportunities to support worthy causes in our communities,” adds Fix. “That is what I am most proud about when I think about the Howler family.”
“There was no master plan to achieve what we have been able to accomplish in a relatively short time period,” says Karl Fix, Dog River Howlers founder and club president. “The idea was to create a touring side that would play some rugby and give back to our communities. People have really embraced the concept and the results say it all.”
The Dog River Howlers began in 2007 with a men’s team travelling to Cuba. Since that ambitious start, the Howlers have added a women’s side and a youth program that has fielded under-18 and under-16 teams. Howler teams play in elite-level sevens rugby tournaments, and several players that have represented the Howlers have gone on to earn spots playing for Canada in fifteens and sevens rugby.
“We have certainly experienced success on the pitch, which is represented by our record in tournament competition and the number of Howler players that have gone on to play for Canada’s national team programs,” says Fix. “Of much greater importance are the philanthropic efforts of the club.
“We have supported over 70 important causes, some of which have been linked to rugby and many others that are non-rugby opportunities to support worthy causes in our communities,” adds Fix. “That is what I am most proud about when I think about the Howler family.”
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