Earn Your Stripes – Explaining the New Look for Medals
In sports, medals serve as lasting symbols of achievement, preserving lifelong memories regardless of when they were earned. Rugby Ontario is committed to creating meaningful experiences that athletes will cherish for years to come.
Through the ‘Earn Your Stripes’ initiative, we provide unique medals at each age category, allowing athletes to reflect on their journey and celebrate the moments that shaped their rugby careers. This initiative also aims to engage athletes throughout their playing careers, from the minor level through their U18 Junior years. Based on community feedback, we believe the best approach is to introduce a new award at each level of competition.
Minor Festival Medals
Similar to the belt system in Karate, all rugby athletes participating in the Rugby Ontario Regional Minor Festivals will begin their playing careers by receiving a gold medal with a white neck ribbon, symbolizing their introduction to the sport. As they progress into the U12 age category and beyond, they will “earn their stripes” through continued participation and development.
U12 – Youth Festival Medals
The U12 age category marks the beginning of an athlete’s journey to ‘earn their stripes.’ While the medal remains gold—symbolizing their commitment to the sport and a winning attitude—the design evolves to reflect their progression. A white base neck ribbon with red stripes represents their continued development, while the addition of a red ring on the medal further distinguishes it from the Minor Festival medal. This unique design ensures that the medal is easily identifiable, preserving the special memories of it and the year the athlete received it. We hope this significant change in design will encourage athletes to continue their participation into their teen years to achieve the “next level” of achievement.
U14 – Youth Festival Medals
The U14 Youth Festival medal represents an athlete’s continued rugby journey and progression through the newly introduced ‘Youth’ division. A blue and white striped neck ribbon sets this medal apart from the U12 Youth Festival medals. The blue symbolizes wisdom—earned through experience and development—as these athletes lead the way as the eldest age group in the ‘Youth’ division. Look for this pattern to continue into the Junior division.
U16 & U18 Regional Championship Medals
The U16 and U18 Regional Championships award a new shield-shaped medal, which creates a clear distinction from the Junior Cup divisions. These medals will be awarded in gold, silver, and bronze to the respective champions and finalists.
U16 athletes will receive medals with a solid red neck ribbon, while U18 athletes will earn medals with a solid navy neck ribbon. The navy colour symbolizes wisdom gained through experience and leadership as the eldest in the Junior division. The solid-coloured ribbons also represent growth and encourage athletes to continue playing rugby in pursuit of the striped neck ribbon – which is awarded to Junior Provincial Cup Champions.
Beyond competition, these medals will act as lasting mementos, allowing athletes to look back and reflect on their squad’s achievements and the unforgettable moments of the 2025 season.
U16 & U18 Junior Provincial Cup Medals
The U16 and U18 Junior Provincial Cup medals will maintain a traditional circular shape, creating a clear distinction from the U16 & U18 Regional Championship divisions. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to the respective champions and finalists.
U16 athletes will receive medals with a neck ribbon featuring solid red gradient stripes, while U18 athletes will earn medals with a neck ribbon adorned with solid blue gradient stripes. Similar to the U18 Regional Championship medals, the blue represents the wisdom gained through experience and leadership as the eldest in the Junior division. The solid gradient stripes signify that these athletes have fully “earned their stripes,” reaching the pinnacle of junior rugby success through their commitment and perseverance in the sport.
Beyond competition, these medals will serve as lasting mementos, allowing athletes to look back and reflect on their squad’s achievements and the unforgettable moments of the 2025 season.
Junior Club 7s Championship Medals
The U16 and U18 Junior Club 7s Championship medals will be awarded in gold, silver, and bronze to the respective champions and finalists.
Both U16 and U18 athletes will receive medals with a neck ribbon featuring navy and red stripes. This design symbolizes the unity of both age categories competing in a single-day event, blending the red neck ribbon awarded to U16s and the blue neck ribbon awarded to U18s in their respective 15s competitions. It also represents athletes “earning their stripes” by battling through the Fall 7s Series after a long summer season of 15s.
To differentiate between the two age groups, the medal ring will vary in color— U16 medals will feature a red ring, while U18 medals will have a navy ring, maintaining consistency with the neck ribbon colours awarded in 15s competitions.
Beyond competition, these medals will serve as lasting mementos, allowing athletes to look back and reflect on their squad’s achievements and the unforgettable moments of the 2025 season.
A huge thank you to Nothers The Award Store for being our provider of awards and medals!
We hope these changes in the medalling system and design inspire our young athletes to push themselves to be their best and continue their participation in rugby.
If there are any questions related to the new design or the story behind it, please reach out to us at info@rugbyontario.com
