The Victoria Rugby Club, popularly known as the Winnipeg Victorias, was a Canadian football team in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the Manitoba Rugby Football Union and Western Canada Rugby Football Union between 1915 and 1935. The Winnipeg Victorias formed in the summer of 1915 when they took over the Winnipeg Rowing Club football team. The Victorias were a new team, as the Rowing Club continued to operate, naturally, as a rowing club. Prior the 1915 season the Victorias announced that they would not have a senior team, but did have teams at the intermediate, junior and juvenile levels. In 1924 they were first Winnipeg team to qualify for the Grey Cup. "An internal disagreement over which railway to use ended up costing the team the right to play. The Victorias chose to suspend operations (in 1928) rather than join the new Western Inter-Provincial Rugby Football League. Concern over travel expenses was the reason."Winnipeg Victorias on cflapediaWinnipeg Victorias on CFLdb
The Winnipeg Victorias Rugby Club was a very successful team, having won six MRFU championships and one WCRFU Championship in the 10 seasons they played.Manitoba Lacrosse Hall of Fame - Teams & ClubsQuest Through the Decades | 1930sManitoba Rugby Hall of Fame - The Winnipeg Rugby Football Club
While the Winnipeg Victorias did disband in 1935 and several of their players (including Ches McCance) were acquired by the new Winnipeg Rugby Football Club in 1935, the team is not part of the official history or records of Winnipeg's current team: the Blue Bombers.Winnipeg Victorias on cflapediaFootball in Winnipeg
Notable players Ches McCance - 1935 (CFL Hall of Famer)Ches McCanceManitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
MRFU season-by-season
Season G W L T PF PA Pts Finish Playoffs 1919 4 4 0 0 65 5 8 1st Won MRFU Championship, lost west playoff to Regina, 12-0 1920 4 4 0 0 66 20 8 1st Won MRFU Championship, withdrew and defaulted western final to Regina 1921 4 4 0 0 59 37 8 1st Won MRFU Championship, lost west final to Edmonton, 16-6 1922 4 4 0 0 59 24 8 1st Won MRFU Championship, lost west final to Edmonton Elks, 19-6 1923 4 4 0 0 176 20 8 1st Won MRFU Championship, lost west final to Regina, 11-1 1924 4 4 0 0 80 24 8 1st Won MRFU Championship, won WCRFU Championship over Calgary 50th Battalion, 11-9, did not challenge for Grey Cup 1925 6 3 3 0 46 31 63rd 1926 6 4 2 0 49 41 8 1st - tied Lost MRFU playoff to Winnipeg St.John's, 14–5 1927 4 3 1 0 33 21 6 1st - tied Lost MRFU playoff to Winnipeg Tammany Tigers, 10-1 1928 to 1934 did not play 1935 3 0 3 0 4 97 0 2nd
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