The Freeport Rugby Football Club’s (FRFC) 60th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, held May 1–3, 2026, was a memorable tribute to six decades of rugby tradition, camaraderie, and community spirit. From the opening moments on Friday evening through the final farewells on Sunday, the weekend reflected everything that makes FRFC such a special club—past, present, and future united by a shared love of sport.
The celebrations began Friday night with a welcoming social at the club on Settler’s Way, which brought together current players, alumni, supporters, and friends. Visiting teams from Clayton Rugby Club and Toronto joined in the festivities, along with individual players who travelled from Ottawa, Atlanta, Cayman, and Florida, reflecting the reach of FRFC rugby and football family.
Saturday served as the centrepiece of the anniversary weekend, with a round robin of Rugby games featuring competitive, spirited matches with players in their teens and those just over 70 too! The presence of visiting teams added to the intensity and excitement on the pitch, while off the field, supporters, families, and friends watched and cheered them on. Commentary on the games came from well-known Nassau MC Gary Markahm and former Buccaneers players.
“The highlight of the weekend was, without question, the rugby itself — or at least in the minds of the players, it was,” said Vice President and FRFC Rugby Coach Nigel Kirkby.
“Clayton and the GITS competed fiercely against one another before combining to form a “Rest of the World” side to take on the Freeport/Bahamas team.”
“I think the matches struck a perfect balance between competition and sportsmanship, with no quarter asked or given — a true reflection of rugby both on and off the field,” Kirkby continued. “There were some fantastic displays of talent and skill, along with plenty of nostalgic moments, even if the pace and sidesteps were perhaps a little slower and shorter than we remembered.”
The evening continued with a formal anniversary dinner that was highlighted by a Junkanoo performance, sponsored by the Ministry of Grand Bahama. Speeches underlined key moments in the club’s history and paid heartfelt tribute to those who have contributed to its success and helped rebuild it after the many hurricanes. FRFC also created a 60 th anniversary booklet, sponsored by local companies, to highlight the history of the sports hub, and helped cover event costs.
Sunday offered a relaxation day to wind up the weekend at the popular Banana Bay restaurant on the Fortune beach area, giving everyone a chance to reconnect one last time and reflect on what the anniversary represented. Conversations naturally turned toward the future, with a shared sense of pride and confidence that Freeport RFC will continue to thrive for generations to come.
“Our 60th weekend celebrations proved really successful, and all our travelling guests and the local community who came out to support really enjoyed the festivities,” said FRFC President Rob Speller. The games on Saturday were played in a great spirit, and some tough rugby was played. Our thanks go to all the visiting teams and players and to the local guys who made a great effort to come out and play. Saturday evening was full of storytelling and offering thanks to the past and present members, players and supporters of The Club. The evening was finished off by a fantastic Junkanoo rush.
Many thanks to everyone who helped make the weekend such a great success. We can look forward to our 70th now!”
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