Al Charron

Ottawa rugby legend Al Charron, a former Canadian captain, is considered by many Rugby experts, as the greatest forward Canada has ever produced. Between 1990 and 2003, Charron earned 76 caps for Canada – remarkably, all as a starter – and represented his country at four Rugby World Cups. Five times he suited up with the famous Barbarians all-star squad and was part of the World 15’s side that faced Argentina in 1999. He has also played professionally in England and France, but Charron has always called Ottawa home. Canadian rugby observers admired over the years, how Charron, played the game, with courage, heart and vigour that came to exemplify our nation’s brand of rugby. A punishing tackler, he also was a ball hawk, whether he lined up in the second row of the pack or as a back row player. At six feet five inches and 245 pounds at his prime back-row weight, Charron was incredibly mobile and had a nose for the try line with a game at stake. He scored World Cup tries and a massive try to beat Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in 1993, one of Canada’s greatest international victories in rugby. Charron retired from the international rugby union on Canada’s defeat of Tonga in the 2003 Rugby World Cup pool match. He has received other accolades having been inducted into the Eastern Ontario Wall of Fame, Ontario Rugby Hall of Fame, Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, and has been recognised, as being one of the top 100 athletes to come from Ottawa. Charron became Canada’s third inductee into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017, following Gareth Rees (inducted in 2011) and Heather Moyse (inducted in 2016) in joining this elite class.