Varsity Sports Program
RMC has a long-standing tradition of competing in a multitude of sports, often with great success, especially given the small size of the institution (1200 students). In 2002 however, the then commandant of the college, RAdm Morse, made the very controversial decision to greatly scale back the Varsity sports program. This was done with the stated goal of increasing the competitiveness of the remaining sports by consolidating the skilled athletes. Also stated was a desire to encourage teamwork and leadership that would be necessary for cadets once they left the college.
This move was wildly unpopular within the student body of the college, and amongst ex-Cadets, as it left many students who were very competitive in a sport of their choice without a means to participate. Among the teams cut were Men's and Women's Rugby union, Track and Field, Swimming, Rowing, Biathlon and Karate; while the college kept the Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Taekwondo and Fencing teams.
In 2004, the College revisited their decision, and after a great deal of lobbying on the part of RMC alumnists, and an enormous show of support from the student body, they brought back the Men's Rugby team at the Varsity level.
The Paladins currently compete in eight sports in the Ontario University Athletics Ontario Universities Association (OUA):
- Basketball (M/W)
- Fencing (M/W)
- Hockey (M)
- Rugby union (M)
- Soccer (M/W)
- Taekwondo (M/W)
- Volleyball (M/W)
- Running (M/W)
Read more about this topic: Royal Military College Paladins
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