In 1907, four football clubs – Hamilton Tigers, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Montreal Football Club – formed a new league called the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. Up until then, the champions of the Ontario Rugby Football Union and the Quebec Rugby Football Union would usually square off for a Dominion championship. But there were otherwise no meaningful games between clubs from the two leagues. So the new league was established to become a new competition for what were considered the top teams in the ORFU and QRFU.
On October 5, 1907, the first ever game in the new IRFU was held before a crowd of 3,000 fans at the M.A.A.A. grounds in Montreal. The home side hosted the Toronto Argonauts (kind of, sort of) in the historic matchup.
The game attracted more attention for its controversy than historical significance, though. Both on and off the field.
While Montreal had dominated the first half of play, Toronto arguably had the upper hand in the second half. In the fourth quarter, Toronto’s Peter Flett kicked the ball on third down to Montreal’s James Craig, who returned the ball some 40 yards before either punting or fumbling the ball (I’ve read differing accounts). Toronto’s G.B. Balfour, instead of picking it up or falling on it, attempted to kick it. Montreal’s left wing substitute Babe Reynolds picked it up and scurried into Toronto’s end zone for a try. Reynolds should’ve been called offside and the touchdown disallowed. But no instant replay in those days. Toronto’s comeback attempt was over. The final score was 17-8 in favour of Montreal.
The bigger controversy happened off the field thanks to a player named Ernie Russell (of Hockey Hall of Fame fame). At the time an organization called the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union was the governing body for amateur sports in Canada. Football was still an amateur sport. And many football players at the time played other sports, as well.
To say the CAAU’s strict interpretation of professionalism tested the IRFU’s patience is an understatement.
The CAAU deemed a player to be professional even if he simply played with or against a professional player. It is this rule that caused Ernie Russell to be “professionalized” by the CAAU. While Russell had sworn an affidavit that he was an amateur player having never taken money himself, he still didn’t receive clearance by the CAAU by the time the Argonauts arrived in Montreal.
Rather than risk losing amateur status for the Argonaut Rowing Club, the Argonaut players cleverly rebranded themselves as the “Torontos” for the IRFU debut game.
In hindsight, the CAAU flexed its muscle a bit too much here. Other IRFU teams simply decided to proceed without the sanction of the amateur athletic union. In time, of course, the IRFU would become a fully professional league anyway. And the CAAU would soon cease to even exist.
So, what should have been a day of celebration for the new Interprovincial Rugby Football Union was largely overshadowed by a blown call by the referees and a nasty public spat with the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union.
Sources:
Montreal Star, 7 October 1907
Toronto Star, 7 October 1907
Toronto Star, 8 October 1907
Toronto Telegram, 7 October 1907
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