Although rugby had been played in Alberta as early as the 1880's, it was not revitalized until the early 1950's when British and other immigrants in Calgary and Edmonton formed teams. In 1954, the Saints and the Saracens were established in Calgary to provide opposition to the Edmonton British Rugby Football Club. The Calgary Rugby Union was formed to represent these Calgary teams as well as others which emerged later. It struck committees, such as fund raising and public relations, to organize and fund tours and other activities. It also became involved in promoting rugby in public schools. In 1961, the Calgary and Edmonton union presidents became members of the Alberta Rugby Union. The aim of the ARU has been to promote participation of provincial teams internationally. It became registered as a society in 1970.