Over the past three decades, Thanksgiving weekend has become synonymous with rugby on the Abbotsford sports scene.
The 36th annual Gobbler, the Abbotsford Rugby Football Club's annual fundraising tournament, takes over the fields at Exhibition Park on Saturday and Sunday, and brings together 15 teams from across Western Canada.
"It's by far our biggest event of our year," said Carlos Navarrete, a member of the ARFC executive. "We have teams from Terrace (B.C.), Alberta and Washington state coming."
The tourney raises in the neighbourhood of $10,000 annually, which goes to fund ARFC operations, including the youth and mini rugby programs.
The Gobbler festivities begin Friday evening, with a welcome party at the ARFC clubhouse (doors open at 8 p.m.). Rugby action begins at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with a dance set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Cadet Hall.
For more information, visit abbotsfordrugby.com.