What Is Rugby Called in Canada?

If you’ve ever watched a rugby match in Canada and heard someone call it something else, you’re not imagining things. Rugby in Canada doesn’t have a different name like soccer or football does in other countries. But here’s the catch: people in Canada don’t always mean the same thing when they say "rugby." The sport has two main branches, and which one you’re talking about changes everything.

Rugby Union Is the Main Game

In Canada, when most people say "rugby," they mean rugby union. That’s the 15-a-side version with scrums, lineouts, and open-field running. It’s the kind you see in the Rugby World Cup. Canada has a national team called the Canadian national rugby union team, or "Canada Rugby" for short. They’ve been playing since the 1880s and competed in every Rugby World Cup since it started in 1987.

Rugby union is the version played in schools, universities, and clubs across the country. From Vancouver to Halifax, you’ll find local leagues under the umbrella of Rugby Canada the national governing body for rugby union in Canada, founded in 1974 and responsible for organizing national teams and domestic competitions. It’s not as big as hockey, but it’s steady. Over 100,000 Canadians play rugby union at some level - youth, club, or university.

Rugby League Exists Too - But It’s Rare

There’s another version called rugby league. It’s 13-a-side, faster, with fewer stoppages. It’s popular in Australia, England, and parts of New Zealand. In Canada? You’ll struggle to find a full league. There are a few amateur teams in Ontario and British Columbia, mostly made up of expats or former players who moved here. The Canada Rugby League a small governing body that tried to promote rugby league in Canada since 2010, with limited success and minimal funding exists on paper, but it doesn’t run national competitions or have TV coverage.

If someone in Toronto says they play "rugby," they almost certainly mean union. If they say "league," they’re probably from the UK or Australia. You won’t find rugby league on Canadian TV, and you won’t see it in high school sports programs.

Why the Confusion?

The confusion comes from history. Canada played rugby long before American football took over. In fact, the first-ever organized football game in Canada - in Montreal in 1868 - was rugby union. Over time, American-style football evolved from it, especially in universities. But Canada never fully abandoned rugby. While the U.S. dropped rugby almost entirely by the 1920s, Canada kept it alive in pockets.

Today, people mix up rugby and football because both involve carrying the ball and tackling. But they’re not the same. Canadian football has 12 players, three downs, and a different scoring system. Rugby union has 15 players, continuous play, and tries worth five points. If you see a game with a rectangular field, no goalposts at the end zones, and players in scrums, it’s rugby union.

What About Women’s Rugby?

Women’s rugby union is growing fast in Canada. The Canada Women’s Rugby Team known as the Canadian Women’s Rugby Team or "Team Canada Women," they won silver at the 2022 Rugby World Cup and are ranked in the top five globally is one of the best in the world. They’ve medaled in every World Cup since 2006. Many girls start playing in high school, and university programs like those at UBC and McGill have strong teams. There’s even a semi-pro women’s league called the Canadian Women’s Rugby Championship a national competition launched in 2020 with teams from Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.

It’s not just about the national team. In Calgary, where I live, there are over 20 women’s rugby clubs. Some are mixed-gender, but most are women-only. The sport is becoming a real pathway for female athletes - especially since it’s one of the few contact sports where women’s teams get equal funding from Rugby Canada.

Is There a Canadian Name for Rugby?

No. There’s no local slang like "footy" in Australia or "footie" in the UK. Canadians just say "rugby." But if you want to be precise, you say "rugby union." That’s the term coaches, referees, and players use. If you say "rugby league," people will assume you’re talking about the Australian version.

Some older Canadians might still call it "football," especially if they grew up before the 1970s. But that’s fading. Today, if you walk into a sports store in Edmonton and ask for a rugby ball, they’ll hand you a rugby union ball - not a football or a soccer ball.

What You’ll See in Canada

Here’s what you’ll actually find if you look for rugby in Canada:

• Rugby union - Played at all levels, from kids to pros. The only version with national structure.
• Rugby sevens - A faster, 7-a-side version. Canada has a strong sevens team that competes in World Rugby Sevens Series. It’s been part of the Olympics since 2016.
• Rugby league - Almost nonexistent. A few clubs, no national league, no media presence.
• Women’s rugby - Rapidly expanding. Strong youth programs and professional opportunities.
• University rugby - U Sports (Canada’s university sports body) runs rugby union championships. Teams from schools like Western, Queen’s, and Alberta are nationally competitive.

What’s Not Rugby in Canada

Don’t confuse it with:

• Canadian football - 12 players, 3 downs, end zones, field goal posts at the goal line. It’s a different sport.
• American football - Same as above, just played in the U.S. with slightly different rules.
• Soccer - Called "football" in most of the world, but never called "rugby" in Canada.

If you see a game with a round ball, no pads, and players kicking for goals - that’s soccer. If you see a ball shaped like a plum, no helmets, and guys in scrums - that’s rugby union.

Where to Watch or Play

If you want to get involved:

• Visit Rugby Canada the official national organization that lists clubs, tournaments, and development programs across all provinces to find a club near you.
• Check out local university teams - many welcome community players.
• Watch the Canada Sevens an annual tournament held in Vancouver since 2015, part of the World Rugby Sevens Series and drawing 30,000+ fans annually in March - it’s the biggest rugby event in Canada.

Most clubs offer beginner sessions. You don’t need experience. Just show up in cleats and a jersey. The community is welcoming. In Calgary alone, there are over 15 clubs offering programs for kids as young as six.

Final Answer

So, what is rugby called in Canada? It’s still called rugby. But if you want to be accurate, say "rugby union." That’s the real thing. The rest? It’s either a misunderstanding or a very rare exception. There’s no Canadian nickname. No secret name. Just rugby - and it’s growing.