Lahore Rugby Football Club

all these clubs started a regular exchange of rugby fixtures, and an annual Pakistan Rugby Sevens also evolved from their regular exchanges. The presence of skilled expatriate players in the team lent support in the recruitment and training of more local players, and later, as the expatriate population in Lahore waned due to the political-cum-economic scenario[clarification needed] of the country, LRFC was able to maintain a steady stream of local players. By 1995 or 1996, LRFC boasted a full contingent of local rugby players and has maintained this status ever since. The reduction in the expatriate members in the game at that stage, however, did impact the club in gaining access to much needed sponsorship which was more forthcoming during their presence. Lahore, though, maintained an active calendar each season due to the hard work and dedication of its members. The club started to expand its horizons by participating in regional tournaments in the Gulf and South Asia, and it became a regular participant at the prestigious Annual Dubai Rugby Sevens event besides participating twice at the Sharjah 10’s. The club has also traveled to India and Sri Lanka and has hosted teams from Sri Lanka and India in tournaments organized at Lahore. Lahore also successfully introduced an annual Rugby 10’s Tournament of its own. The club consists of playing members from various walks of life ranging from students to business executives that have come together for the love of the sport. Since 1995, the club holds its training sessions and tournaments at these venues: Defense L-Block Stadium, Garrison Academy, and The Punjab Stadium. Since 2001, LRFC is also the member of the Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU), the representative body of the sport in Pakistan which in turn is an Associate Member of the IRB and is determined to developing the sport in various educational institutions in the city including the Lahore University of Management Sciences and the Garrison Academy.