Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They compete in the Canadian Football League and are part of the West Division. The team was founded in 1910 as the Regina Rugby Club and is the fourth-oldest professional gridiron football team in the world. Only the Arizona Cardinals, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Toronto Argonauts are older.

The Roughriders have a long and proud history. They changed their name to the Regina Roughriders in 1924 and became the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1946. For many years, they played at historic Taylor Field until moving to the new Mosaic Stadium in 2017.

Fans of the team, called the Rider Nation, come from all over Saskatchewan and Canada. Even though they play in one of the smallest markets in North America (only Green Bay, Wisconsin is smaller), the Roughriders have been very successful. They have won the Western championship a record 29 times and have appeared in the Grey Cup 20 times, winning it five times.

The team has many talented players who have been honored by being placed in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Their biggest rival is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and games between the two teams are very popular. Regina has also hosted the Grey Cup four times and will host it again in 2027.

Team facts

• Formerly known as: Regina Rugby Club 1910–1923, Regina Roughriders 1924–1947
• Past uniform colours: Old gold and purple (1910), blue and white (1911), red and black (1912–1947)
• Fight Song: "Green Is The Colour", "On Roughriders" and "Rider Pride"
• Main rivals: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (see Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl), Calgary Stampeders
• Western Division 1st Place: 9–1951, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 2009, 2019, 2025
• Western Division Championships: 29–1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1951, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1989, 1997, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2025
• Grey Cup Championships: 5—(/wiki/54th_Grey_Cup), (/wiki/77th_Grey_Cup), (/wiki/95th_Grey_Cup), (/wiki/101st_Grey_Cup), (/wiki/112th_Grey_Cup)

Community ownership

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club was started in 1910 and became an official group in 1940. It is registered as a non-profit group in Saskatchewan. The Roughriders are one of two teams in the Canadian Football League that are owned by the community, with the other team being the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Before 2004, the team did not have any owners.

Since 2004, the Roughriders have offered Membership Shares to fans. There are two types: Class A shares, which have voting rights, and Class B shares, which do not. By March 2019, the team had sold many of these shares, though the exact number of owners is not public. These shares cannot be resold, and no one can own more than 20 voting shares. The money from selling shares goes into a special fund to help the team.

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation was started in 2019. It raises money to support education, health, and amateur football, helping teach young people important skills like leadership and responsibility.

History

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as part of the West Division. The team was founded in 1910 as the Regina Rugby Club.

The Roughriders have a rich history, with many changes in their name, colors, and home stadium over the years. They have experienced periods of great success, including winning the Grey Cup championship several times. The team has also faced challenges, such as financial difficulties and playoff droughts, but has always managed to bounce back.

Throughout their history, the Roughriders have been led by many talented players and coaches, creating a strong sense of community and pride among their fans.

Popularity

Fan support

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have many fans and are very popular. In 2009, they had the most fans in the Canadian Football League. People love the team so much that when they play away games, many fans travel to watch them. In 1995, a record number of fans, 55,438, watched a game at Taylor Field when the team played against the Calgary Stampeders. Fans often wear fun and creative costumes, like watermelon helmets, to show their support.

Fundraisers

Fans have helped the team by taking part in fundraisers. From 1986 to 2018, a lottery called the Friends of the Riders Touchdown Lottery raised over $23 million for the team. This money helped the team during tough financial times. In 1987 and 1997, fans also helped by joining telethons to raise money to keep the team running.

Section 28

Section 28 was a special area in the stands at Taylor Field. It was known for having very loyal fans who stood the whole game and were very loud and enthusiastic. It was originally a cheap seat for university students from Saskatchewan, but it became famous for its energetic fans until Taylor Field closed in 2016.

Fight and theme songs

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have special songs they play at their games. Two of their main songs are "Rider Pride" and "Paint the Whole World Green." After each touchdown, they play a song called "Green Is the Colour," which they changed from a song called "Blue Is the Colour" made for the Chelsea Football Club. During the fourth quarter break, fans enjoy "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" by The Arrogant Worms, and the team’s cheerleaders lead everyone in a fun stretch. Many other songs have been made to celebrate the team, and some have become very well-known in Western Canada. The music at Mosaic Stadium includes many popular songs that everyone knows and loves.

Mascots

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a special mascot named Gainer the Gopher. He first appeared in 1977 and was updated in 2019. The name "Gainer" is a mix-up of the word "Regina," which is where the team is from. Gainer is a gopher, a type of squirrel that lives on the Canadian Prairies.

Radio

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have radio broadcasts all over the province through the The Co-operators Roughrider Football Network, with CKRM in Regina as the main station. Other stations include CFWD-FM in Saskatoon, CJGX in Yorkton, CKBI in Prince Albert, CJNB in North Battleford, and CJNS-FM in Meadow Lake. CKRM's strong signal helps fans across the province enjoy the games.

Famous voices of the Roughriders include Dave Dryburgh, John Badham, Rod Peterson, and Derek Taylor. In 2022, Michael “Ballsy” Ball became the new announcer, and in 2024, Dave Thomas took over the role.

Current roster

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a team of players who compete in the Canadian Football League. This group of athletes works together during games and practices to represent the team in matches.

Current coaches and directors

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a team of coaches and directors who help guide the players and manage the team. These people work together to make sure the team is well-prepared for each game and to support the players in improving their skills. The coaches and directors play an important role in the success of the team.

Management

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have had many leaders over the years. Some important head coaches include names like Ken Preston, Frank Filchock, Eagle Keys, and Craig Dickenson. These coaches guided the team during different times.

The team also had many general managers, such as Clair Warner, Ken Preston, and Brendan Taman, who helped make big decisions. The current president and CEO is Craig Reynolds, who has been in that role since 2015.

Players of note

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have many important players and people who have helped the team. Some players have had their numbers retired to honor them. Others have been added to the Plaza of Honour for their big contributions to the team.

The Plaza of Honour started in 1987 and includes many players, coaches, and others who have supported the team from 1987 to 2023. Some recent honorees include Wendy Kelly and the 2013 Grey Cup Championship Team in 2023, and Weston Dressler, Mike McCullough, and Ken Miller in 2022.

Many members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame have also played or worked for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Recent regular season and playoff results

Season-by-season records

1990s

Legend:
F = Points scored For, A = Points scored Against

* For the 1995 Season, all 8 Canadian teams were featured in the Northern Division.

Danny Barrett era

* From 2000 to 2002, the CFL awarded a single point to teams losing in overtime. The Riders had two such losses during the 2002 season.

Ken Miller era

Corey Chamblin era