Our Heritage

FOUNDERS & HISTORY

Started in 1988 by two friends with a shared love of rugby, Monilex Sports Ltd. has been supporting the Canadian rugby community ever since. Monty Heald and Lexie Tynan met in the early 1980s at The Burlington Centaurs Rugby Club and became fast friends. Ex pats of England and Ireland respectively, they were frustrated by the lack of good rugby gear in Canada, and their frustration led them to start Monilex to serve this need. As time passed we moved to focusing of providing the Canadian rugby market with Gilbert Rugby products - rugby's original ball and brand since 1823. We have operated as "Gilbert Rugby Canada" since 2017.

Today, Gilbert Rugby Canada, and our sister company Monilex, are owned and operated by Lexie's daughter Leigh Tynan who is proud to carrying on the legacy of supporting rugby in Canada, especially for the women's game. 

Monty Heald, Founder

Monty was instrumental in supporting the growth of rugby in Canada and has been recognized by the Canadian Rugby Association as an honorary lifetime member. He was president of the Canadian Rugby Union for many years and lead the organization through many changes. You can read Monty's full story on the Rugby Canada website here:

http://awards.rugbycanada.ca/monty-heald.html

Lexie Tynan, Founder and President

 

Lexie started his playing career at Belvedere College in Dublin, Ireland and went on to play club and provincial rugby along side such greats as Tony O`Reilly. He coached at senior club level, had a trial for the National team and was for a number of years the Irish sprint champion. In Canada he coached at club and school level and is a certified level 2 course conductor and has served as a National selector.