Image credit: Anthony Corea/CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

RUGBY RAIDERS

Yoda’s Paddy-O: Harrington honoured on Kamloops Rugby Club Alumni Day

Sep 15, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Paddy (Yoda) Harrington was collecting money and handing out beer tokens, unsuspecting when called over to the Kamloops Rugby Club’s new pergola on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Exhibition Park.

Harrington was caught off guard when Raiders’ president Mitch Day unveiled the sign – Yoda’s Paddy-O – that hangs above the pergola patio.

“Everyone knows Yoda,” Day said on Saturday, which was KRC Alumni Day. “Everyone respects him. If he tells you to do something, you’re going to hop to it as quick as you can. And yeah, he’s just the life and blood of the club.”

Harrington has held the titles of president, secretary, treasurer, coach and player since joining the club in 1976.

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The 83-year-old club legend is among those who led the charge on the clubhouse expansion project, but was quick to distribute praise during his impromptu speech, pointing to crowd members who helped with fundraising and building.

“This is a privilege to work with you guys,” said Harrington, who was inducted to the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

In the fall of 2012, KRC moved to Rayleigh from its former home in Tk’emlups te Secwepemc’s Mount Paul Industrial Park.

Jason White, a club member since 1992, said club members felt like lost souls during the stint at the Tournament Capital Ranch, a tenure that came to an end in 2016, when the Raiders moved headquarters downtown to Exhibition Park.

“On a day like today, it really proves how amazing it is for us to have this facility in this place and this group of people to call home,” White said. “We’re still a big family. We just lost Tony Stobie two months ago. The Paddy Harringtons … I wouldn’t want to name names, but there’s a lot of people who have helped build it to what it is.”

The Raiders were victorious in both of their matches on alumni day.

KRC began its title defence in the B.C. Rugby Union men’s second division with a 68-5 triumph over Surrey, improving to 1-0 on the campaign.

Kamloops knocked off Abbotsford 55-10 in a first division women’s exhibition game.

“It’s looking really good for everyone,” Day said of the state of the on-field product. “And the growth of the club is because of the location. With the juniors, we’re fielding six teams between boys and girls this year. And now with the new clubhouse, the patio expansion, it’s definitely growing.”

CFJC Today will have more on Harrington in a Tattle of Hastings segment later this month. It will be available here when published.