Category Archives: Foundation News

2023 George Jones Awards and Thomas Family Awards

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We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Thomas Family Awards and George Jones Awards:

2023 GEORGE JONES AWARDS

George Jones Q.C. was well-known in both athletic and legal circles. His resume was lengthy and legendary and included appearances and successes at virtually every court level, fundraising, coaching, refereeing in many sports and at many levels.

George was born in Victoria. His father was an admiral and knew the value of discipline and hence George was sent to Brentwood College School at that time located in Mill Bay, he spent 1 year at Brentwood, the rest at Lakefield in Ontario.

From there George attended law school at UBC and married early and had 5 children. Graduation was achieved and a short career with Revenue Canada followed. Either or both Revenue Canada or George came to their senses and George then spent the next 50 years defending individuals in Tax Court and bailing out rugby players from various situations and occasionally and sporadically billing clients strictly on Robin Hood principles. Two more children followed together with countless loyal and loving  friends. George’s roast in 2012 was attended by 300 people at the Empress and raised 50,000 for the George Jones scholarship.

One of George’s most ardent passions was for the sport of rugby and he was a co-founder and the first director of the Canadian Rugby Foundation.

Janelle Amyotte – University of Alberta

Janelle Amyotte

Janelle Amyotte is going into her last year at the University of Alberta and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism. Janelle started playing rugby with the Strathcona Druids in Sherwood Park, Alberta, when she was 14 years old, after a successful career as a competitive gymnast. She joined the Green and Gold Rugby Academy in her grade 11 year and stayed with her green and gold roots as a varsity athlete with Pandas rugby team. Last year, she was the proud recipient of the Panda award. One of Janelle’s favourite rugby moments was helping her Pandas team win the Sluggit cup this year.

Janelle also has a passion for sport, and kids in sport. She spent her spring coaching high school rugby and her summer working with Rugby Alberta helping to organize the Alberta Regional Championships, Western Championships, and Alberta Summer Games. She is a firm believer in access to sport for kids, and would like to play a role in growing rugby in the future. Janelle is grateful for the opportunity to receive the George Jones Award.

Tanveer Chowdhury – University of Toronto

Tanveer Chowdhury

My name is Tanveer Chowdhury, but my friends and everyone else around me know me as Niloy. I am currently a Master of Teaching student at the University of Toronto with hopes of graduating in 2024, and I write this letter with the intention of applying for the George F. Jones Award Fund.

My contributions to rugby began from my time setting up the team at my local high school, where I also captained the team. I further contributed to rugby within the community by working with the Toronto-Inner City Rugby Foundation (TIRF) where I taught rugby to youth across the city. In addition to this, I have most recently coached at my old high school, Woburn CI, introducing the sport to students and getting them involved.

Ever since I began playing rugby, it has been a sport I have fallen in love with. While there were many trials and tribulations, I faced playing the sport, I have always come back to play and continue to keep playing the sport. As of right now, I am not able to play due to injuries, but I hope to be back as a player for my club for the TRU 2024 season. In addition to this, I also hope to be a World Rugby Level 2 coach who coaches local youth sides within Toronto. I hope that my past achievements and accomplishments qualify me for this scholarship, and I hope to hear back soon.

 Kennedy Feasby – University of Guelph

Kennedy Feasby

My name is Kennedy Feasby, and I am a 4th year Human Kinetics student and a varsity rugby athlete at the University of Guelph. Rugby is more than just a game to me, it has given me a sense of belonging and community, celebrated my strength and grit as a female athlete, and instilled so many positive character traits that would allow me to become the best global citizen I could be. This scholarship grant would help support and fund my 2023/2024 university rugby season and age-grade team Canada camps.

Rugby has given me so many opportunities to get involved and give back to my community. During high school, I was given the opportunity to work with the mixed abilities rugby program based out of my home club the Oshawa Vikings. During my time at University I have volunteered at clinics for local
high school teams, growing the game for young female athletes. Furthermore, I was fortunate to help out with the Premier Sevens League rookie rugby clinic that was hosted in Washington D.C.

This summer I played on the U23 national Canadian team, won the Ontario Women’s League cup with the Guelph Redcoats Senior Women’s team, and I competed in 2 tournaments in the Premier 7’s league, winning the championship in Washington DC with the Loonies. Last season, I was named an
OUA All Star and a U SPORTS All Canadian. My future goals include being a rugby ambassador, representing Canada at the World cup and being a strong female rugby role model for our next generation.

 Caelyn Huebner – University of Victoria

Caelyn Huebner

Caelyn is a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Health and Education student at the University of Victoria and like the award’s namesake, has played for James Bay Athletic Association, UVic, and the Crimson Tide. She recently began to broaden her rugby experience coaching at Esquimalt High School.

In high school she was significantly involved in her school’s community, participating in 7 sports, was involved in the school’s leadership program, volunteered in her school’s international student program, and helped start the “Best Buddies” club (a club which focuses on creating friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities).

As Jen Roos her coach with the JBAA Senior Women’s team says, “Caelyn reminds me a lot of Courtney, whom I was fortunate enough to play with at UVIC. While not the biggest on the pitch, Caelyn plays with her heart and soul and the determination of someone three times her size. She is talented yet understated- leading our team with wisdom and commitment.

Said Cory Payne her coach at Esquimalt High School and the JBAA U16 girls team, “For the years that I coached Caelyn, she has been easily one of the most committed players that I have had the honour to coach. Her desire to be better and make the team better gave us the success we had in earning the Provincial school title.

Caelyn has always been reliable. This was especially evident when she had a major injury and still came to practices, games and events. Caelyn continued cheering on her teammates and taking part in any way so she could remain a part of the team. When Caelyn said she would be
somewhere or do something she would. Caelyn has always been eager to help the new players and encourage them to get better. She has a
natural teaching ability and it shows in her patience and acceptance of new players. I’ve leaned on Caelyn to be a leader because of her ability to model the inclusiveness of all players regardless of skill and or experience.

Caelyn has demonstrated her natural leadership and teaching skills these past two seasons while being my assistant coach with the high school team. She was an important role model to the players as well as instructing and guiding the team in all aspects of the game. Caelyn’s attributes
as a player and leader are what made me choose her as a mentor to the high school team. I really admire her approach to leadership and encouragement of all. Esquimalt placed 4th in the Province at last year’s school provincials and I truly believe Caelyn was a large part of that
success because of all the things listed above”.

Jack Vanderpost – Dalhousie University

Free Male Portrait vector and picture

Photo pending

Rugby goals and plans: Fresh onto the rugby scene in my final year of highschool, I quickly found a love for the intensity, athleticism, strategy, and comradery that this sport provides. My willingness to develop, and my prior athletic experience, along with support from teammates and coaches, allowed me to excel in my first season and earn the rookie of the year award. I have had the great fortune to be successful in many athletic endeavours, and I have always appreciated the potential others see in me. I want to pursue my next athletic opportunity and truly believe rugby is exactly what I am looking for. It is my hope to plays many years of rugby, beginning with the Dalhousie University men’s team and perhaps others clubs once I graduate.

While I have had moderate success in the sport thus far, and I understand the rigor and commitment it will take for me to get where I want to be in the world of rugby. Regardless of how this athletic endeavor turns out for me I am just beginning to see how incredible this sport is and I will be sure to encourage those younger than me to try it out sooner than I did.

Says Sean Hammond, Lakefield College School coach, “While Jack was new to the sport of rugby, his athleticism, game sense, and commitment to consistently improving this skills made him a valuable part of our team. Jack found a home in the starting seven rather quickly, using his size and speed to be a consistent threat on both offense and defense. Not only did he lead our team in scoring (averaging 1-2 tries per game), but he also was instrumental in our lineouts where he stole over 80% of the lineouts he jumped in. Jack’s physical contributions on the field, coupled with his understated leadership,
led to his receiving the Rookie of the Year award after a unanimous decision from the coaching staff.

While Jack is definitely new to the sport of rugby, he has great potential to continue to grow in the sport. He has a great background in team sports and now has begun to develop foundational rugby skills that pair well with his overall athleticism. I fully believe that given an opportunity to play rugby at the next level, Jack will prove to be an athlete who can be relied upon for dedication and hard work, and these attributes will help him develop into a strong rugby player at the university level.

 

2023 THOMAS FAMILY AWARDS

The Canadian Rugby Foundation has a number of awards which have been named after deserving people in the rugby community who have made significant contributions to our game.  There is no family more deserving of this honour than the Thomas family.  Their contributions to Canadian Rugby have been more significant than any other in the past.  The Thomas Family’s initial pledge has also encouraged others to give back to the sport they love.

The Thomas family originates from Morriston, a small town in Wales.  As a young engineer, Mr. Thomas decided to emigrate to Canada.  He is, and always has been, very passionate about rugby.  It is for this reason that the family decided to make this significant pledge to support the Foundation as a way of saying thank you to a country and sport that has given so much joy to the entire family.  As a way of thanking the Thomas family for their extreme generosity to the Foundation and all of the various rugby projects they have supported over the years, the Foundation presents the Thomas  Family Scholarship to be distributed annually to one or Canadian student playing the great game of rugby.

Matthew Amyotte – University of Alberta

Matthew Amyotte

My name is Matthew Amyotte. I am a 21-year-old fourth year student in a dual degree of Kinesiology and Education with a 3.3 GPA at the University of Alberta. I am a great candidate for the Thomas Family Award. Being involved in rugby since I was 11, I have had a lot of accomplishments, for example, playing U18 Team Canada for both 15’s and 7’s. I demonstrate my passion for rugby in every practice and game I partake in, whether it’s as a coach or a player.

Volunteering is a big part of my life. I volunteer at different events involving youth, including being in a classroom and coaching rugby. Through my experiences in the classroom, I have learned how to connect with kids of all backgrounds. Being a volunteer coach has been
rewarding because it has given me an opportunity to give back to not only the community, but also my club and the game that has given me so much.

My future goals as a player is to be a leader on the University of Alberta team and ultimately represent Canada at a senior men’s level. My goals as a coach and educator are to ensure every child has a chance to reach their full potential. My favourite part of coaching and
teaching is getting to know the children and being able to connect with them. Seeing them have fun, grow, and develop different skills that will help them succeed not only in rugby, but in life, is rewarding.

Laryssa Atamanchuk – University of Alberta

Laryssa Atamanchuk

Laryssa Atamanchuk is a first-year student at the University of Alberta who exhibits many qualities for this award.

As captain for the past two seasons of my school rugby team, I worked with my team to promote inclusion. Over half of our team were new to the sport, it was important to introduce them to each other and the game. I made sure to always build my team up; Conversations included me sharing things to accomplish during games, not criticizing any mistake players make. I had them create goals they wanted to work on achieving while playing, and would check with them after to emphasize how they can develop. I was fortunate to make the UofA rugby team and continue playing, and will stay involved through a club team both playing and volunteering my time.

I have been a soccer coach within the community for many years where I can share my passion for the sport with them. I have worked extremely hard for my education and learning. I plan to complete my undergraduate arts degree, then further my education in law school. My
goal is to inspire individuals to become leaders and while being a role model to look up to.

Sam Eiffler – Capilano University

Sam Eiffler

I believe I am the right candidate for the Thomas Family scholarship, as I embody the values and tenets of Mr. Grenville Thomas and of Canadian Rugby.

I discovered my passion for the sport in my senior year of high school at Sutherland Secondary, forming the first team since Covid-19 restrictions shut down the sport. It was a rough season, but introduced me to rugby, and I signed up immediately after for the Capilano RFC Men’s team. I quickly found a community and club that pushed me to grow as a player and a person, and I continue to develop as I play second row for the Men’s Premier Reserve team.

The Thomas Family scholarship would enable me to pursue academic studies and work towards a future in the city planning or legal department. Like Mr. Thomas, I understand the importance of community around rugby, as I’ve returned after graduating to help coach the Sutherland team.

Academically, I ended my first fall term in Good Academic Standing with a 3.78 GPA.

Going forward, I hope to fund and continue my schooling with a bachelor’s degree and a masters in law or city planning, while playing second row for the Capilanos, as my grandfather did before me.

 Sophie McDonald – University of Ottawa

Sophie McDonald

I started playing rugby for my high school in Grade 10. Before then I didn’t know what the sport was, and what it could do for me. I went to my first practice and realized that I had found a new love for a sport that I didn’t know existed 24 hours prior. Unfortunately, our high school was not big enough to field a team and I felt like I lost something. A few years later, I was presented with the opportunity to try out for the University of Ottawa Gee Gees Women’s Rugby team. I was brought on and now two years later I look back at how far I’ve come as an athlete and more importantly as a person.

The effort that everyone on this team puts in, on and off the field is amazing to me. The rugby community is one like none other. It is one of the most accepting groups I’ve ever been a part of. Our team is committed to advocating for many social issues like the LGBTQ+ community, Black Lives Matter, and indigenous peoples of Canada. Our goal is to use our platform to create a safer and more inclusive community. The diversity and inclusion that the rugby community allows is very impactful. To become an athlete it is important to feel represented. Rugby is more than just a sport, it is a family.

Lane Morency – University of Ottawa

Lane Morency

I firmly believe that I would be an excellent candidate for the Thomas Family Award because I feel that I can be looked on as an excellent student and an outstanding citizen in the rugby community. I am a decorated athlete both in high school sports and extra-curricular sports, I was a model student during my time at LaSalle Secondary School receiving numerous awards at graduation and running student council for two years, and I was constantly volunteering and working hard to ensure that I played my part within my community to make it an amazing place
to live and play sports.

Throughout my years in the sport of rugby I have had countless amazing experiences, including participating in OFSAA, experiencing my first university training session, and playing my first Men’s game. Yet, despite all these enriching moments none of them compared to the experience of sharing the pitch with both of my brothers this summer, playing the game we all love. Rugby runs deep in the blood of all three of us having had our mother play in her university days, so I am passionate about continuing to stay active in the sport. I look forward to my brothers and parents rooting for me in my new colors of garnet and grey next year as I will continue my rugby journey at The University of Ottawa, taking everything, I learned from my high school team and my local Kinston Panthers Rugby Club with me.

 

2023 John Cannon Memorial Awards Announced

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We are pleased to announce the 2023 John Cannon Memorial Award winners:

  • Lockhart MacGregor
  • Lucie Romeo
  • Lana Dueck

Lockhart has represented BC at the U15 and U19 levels and is in his second year of varsity rugby at the University of Victoria. He has goals of playing professional rugby and representing Canada at the senior level.

Lucie is in her second year of university rugby at the University of Victoria and has represented Canada with the Maple Leaf Development Academy and Canada 7s. She has been recognized as a USPORT All-Canadian and an All-Star at the University Rugby Championships. Lucie was also part of the Canada 7s team that secured a silver medal at the Pan-Am games this past November. One of her goals is to represent Canada 7s at the Olympics.

Lana has represented BC in 15s and 7s, and Canada 15s at U18. She is in her first year of university, playing rugby at the University of British Columbia. Lana has the goal to represent Canada at the senior level.

Previous John Cannon Memorial Grant recipients Shalaya Valenzuela (2021), Lucie Romeo (2023), and Jake Thiel (2018) recently helped Canada secure silver and bronze medals at the Pan-Am games in Santiago, Chile. McKenzie Carson (2018), who previously played Canada 15s, was the first player to play for England under the new eligibility rules. She currently plays for Gloucester Hartpury in the English Premiership.The John Cannon Memorial Touch tournament is an annual event hosted by the Abbotsford Rugby Club which supports the John Cannon Memorial Grant. Award recipients are recognized at this event in early August. This year’s repeat tournament winners were the Half Back and Halfwits.

2024 Canadian University Coaching Awards Announced

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The following 11 Men’s and Women’s University Rugby Coaches have been selected to the 2024 cadre attending the Crusaders International Academy Accelerator Coaching program from May 20 through May 31, 2024 in Christchurch New Zealand. Each will have their program fees plus room and board paid, and travel costs subsidized. These coaches follow the group of 7 coaches who went to the Crusaders program last year.

SELECTED COACHES

Selected by the Canadian Rugby Foundation and funded by its University Rugby Supporters Fund and For the Love of the Game are:

  1. Simon Chi, Head Coach, University of Calgary Women’s Rugby
  2. James Flemming, Head Coach, University of Ottawa Men’s Rugby
  3. Chris Jones, Head Coach, McMaster University, Women’s Rugby
  4. Jessie-Ann Gibson, Assistant Coach, University of Guelph Women’s Rugby
  5. Jessica Joubarne, Assistant Coach, Carleton University Women’s Rugby
  6. Zak Scovoranski, Assistant Coach, Mount Royal University Men’s Rugby
  7. Lancelot Satge, Head Coach, University of Montreal Men’s Rugby
  8. Jay Shaw, Head Coach, University of Waterloo Women’s Rugby
  9. Brent Wood, Assistant Coach, University of Calgary Men’s Rugby

and selected by the BC Rugby Union and funded by the Gerald McGavin Coaching Award Fund of the Canadian Rugby Foundation are:

  1. Darcy Patterson, Assistant Coach, University of British Columbia Women’s Rugby
  2. Jon Mergui, Assistant Coach, University of British Columbia Men’s Rugby

Congratulations to all eleven coaches!

PROGRAM DETAILS

The Canadian Rugby Foundation University Coaching Award is an initiative of the Foundation’s University Rugby Supporters Fund to further develop university-level coaches’ program leadership, coaching expertise and technical ability. The focus of this initiative is on university coaches as we and our lead donors believe the men’s and women’s university rugby pathway is critical to the success of our senior teams and programs. The major goals of this award are for the coaches to 1) continue to develop their coaching careers and credentials, 2)  use their learnings to enhance the technical skills of their university student-athletes and coaching colleagues, and 3) share that information with rugby coaches in their local and provincial rugby communities.
This award is administered by members of the Foundation’s University Rugby Initiative committee consisting of Mike Holmes, Doug Tate, Dave Lougheed, Colette McAuley, and Jeff Chan.
What the Award Entails:
Eligible coaches are head or assistant coaches with a CUMRC-eligible Men’s Rugby program or a U SPORTS Women’s Rugby program with their World Rugby Level 2 Coaching Certification completed or committed, and we will be working to get their Level 3 training and certification accelerated. The selected coaches attend a 13-day program at the home of Crusaders Rugby in Christchurch, NZ (https://crusaders.co.nz/) Nine university coaches selected by the Foundation, and two selected by the BCRU will join 14 international coaches in a program organized by the Crusaders International Academy. The Crusaders are widely regarded as New Zealand’s top Super Rugby club (7 consecutive championships through June 2023), furnishing multiple players to the All Blacks, and most recently the All Blacks head coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson.
S&C Initiative
On a side note is another initiative from the University Rugby Initiative related to Strength & Conditioning that Dave Lougheed and “For the Love of the Game” is leading. Although the varsity rugby programs at many of the universities in Canada have excellent support from their Athletics department, the same cannot be said for the majority of teams.
With the goal of making Canada’s national rugby teams among the fittest in the world, we will be embarking on a pilot with Men’s and Women’s university rugby teams to establish a national strength & conditioning and fitness tracking system using TeamBldr which many teams are already familiar with, and to provide access to third-party S&C experts where university resources aren’t available. Tracking results will of course be available for each team, but will also used for talent identification and an indicator of commitment to improving and maintaining fitness by Rugby Canada for its national age-grade and senior teams. More details will come as details are ironed out.

Remembering Paul ‘Koby’ Kobayashi with New Fund

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We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Paul ‘Koby’ Kobayashi Memorial Award Fund in memory of Regina’s Paul ‘Koby’ Kobayashi.

The Paul ‘Koby’ Kobayashi Memorial Award Fund was created by Paul’s family to honour his memory and his love of rugby. The awards will recognize leadership and provide support for elite players to compete at a higher level.

About ‘Koby’

Paul ‘Koby’ Kobayashi

Paul was an athlete who excelled at any sport he played, but it was through rugby that he found a camaraderie like no other. A brotherhood.

Paul joined the Campion Grads when he was 17 and was fortunate to have an exceptional group of veteran players who mentored and developed him both personally and as a player. Whenever Paul was going through dark and tough times in his life, it was his rugby brothers who stepped up and came through for him. They were all there for each other. As a former teammate/mentor of Paul’s stated, “He who sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.”

In his last few months, Paul reminisced fondly about his rugby days and the Grads. He shared many stories about his rugby brothers and had many laughs. He also talked about the opportunity he had to play for the Prairie Fire and travel to Halifax and reflected on those days as some of the best times of his life.

The family wanted to honour Paul’s memory by providing two annual awards to support the game that meant so much to him.

As this is a newly established endowment fund, award amounts and timing of distribution will be dependent on raising the minimum requirements for disbursement. Applications for both awards will open at that time, and deadlines will be provided. Ideally, the Kobayashi family would like to grant two separate awards: the Koby Leadership Award for Campion Grads players only, and the Koby Excellence Award open to all Regina Men’s and Women’s Rugby Clubs.

Koby Leadership Award ($500)

  • Awarded annually to a current member of the Campion Grads RFC through a nomination process

Koby Excellence Award (Amount TBD)

  • Awarded annually to assist a current Regina Rugby Club Men’s or Women’s player who could benefit from financial support to travel for a provincial or national level rugby competition. Players planning to travel to participate in a recruitment program or I.D. camp can also qualify.

More details on the two awards are here. 

For any further inquiries or clarifications, please email kobymemorialfund@gmail.com

To make a donation towards the Paul ‘Koby’ Kobayashi Memorial Award Fund, go here: 

For the Love of the Game Joins the Foundation to Create a New Endowment Fund

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The For the Love of the Game Fund at the Canadian Rugby Foundation was established in January 2024 to act as the endowment fund for the registered not-for-profit organization “For the Love of the Game Experience Ltd.” founded in 2015 by former Canadian international Dave Lougheed. The mission of For the Love of the Game is to “inspire excellence through experience for athletes, coaches and their passionate supporters”.

For the Love of the Game has already partnered with the Foundation on a number of initiatives including sponsorship of the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship and the Canadian University Coaching Awards and continues to support initiatives through the Canadian Rugby Foundation that align with its mission, vision and values.

Please visit www.fortheloveofthegame.info for more information about For the Love of the Game.

Fletcher’s Fields Launches 2024 Summer Celebration of Rugby (SCOR)

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We are pleased to support the Fletcher’s Fields 2024 Summer Celebration of Rugby, marking the final season to be played at the historic Fletcher’s Fields in Markham, Ontario. The Foundation’s partnership with all six shareholders of Fletcher’s Fields Limited helped launch the Foundation to new heights at the end of 2021, and we are only too happy to continue our partnership with this summer’s celebration.

The official media release announcing  the Summer Celebration of Rugby

Supporters of the UVic Vikes Men’s Rugby Club Start New Fund

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Just as the University of Victoria Vikes were competing in the 2023 Coastal Cup to qualify for the 2023 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship, supporters of the team banded together with Coach Scott Manning to establish the new Vikes Men’s Rugby Supporters Fund. The Vikes Men’s Rugby Supporters Fund was established in October 2023 as a means for the University of Victoria Men’s Rugby program to solicit, invest and use fund earnings, donations and fund-raising proceeds for the long-term and short-term needs of the program. NOTE: The Vikes earned a Silver Medal at the 2023 CUMRC, falling to arch-rivals UBC Thunderbirds in the Championship Final.

Vikes Aspirations
As Coach Manning stated, “As a program, our vision is simple: we’re looking to ‘Grow a World Class University Rugby Program’. Every decision we make attempts to build off the legacy of Vikes Rugby already established and to close the gap between where we are now and where we aspire to be.

Over the past two years, we have made strides to close that gap. We’ve brought in qualified coaches (all former Vikes!). We’ve taken The Boot back from UBC for the first time in a decade. We’ve started multiple community initiatives. We’ve taken a roster of 50% first and second years to a BC Premier League semi-final (the top Sr. Men’s rugby club competition in North America). And we’ve recruited competitively, with 8 out of 24 members from the 2023 Canada U18 team choosing to join our program. The future is bright!

We want to be the #1 choice for Canadian rugby players to develop as players and as people. To be competitive in creating the best national varsity rugby program, we put a premium on creating the right environment, including coaching, tours, equipment, strength & conditioning, educational workshops and more. Your support will directly contribute to building that environment.”

The Fund
The Vikes Men’s Rugby Supporters Fund is the Canadian Rugby Foundation’s first hybrid University Fund. Donations and contributions to this Fund consist of two parts. The first is intended to address the long-term needs of the rugby team or program through an endowment funded by 50% of the donations and fundraising. These monies are invested in perpetuity, and only disbursements of the earnings of the fund are permitted. The second 50% of donations and fundraising contributions are intended to address the short-term needs of the program through disbursements towards annual operating expenses. There is no limit to the disbursements from this part of the fund.

As is the case with all of the Foundation’s funds, any donation to the new Vikes Fund is eligible for a charitable tax receipt. These donations may be made on a one-time or monthly basis, by cheque, bank wire, credit or debit card, PayPal, or stock transfer.

Further details on the Vikes Men’s Rugby Supporters Fund, and a link to make donations to the Fund are here:

Rick Bourne Among 2023 Inductees into Rugby Canada Hall of Fame

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December 12, 2023 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada is pleased to announce the Hall of Fame class for 2023. Nine Canadian rugby icons will have their distinguished careers celebrated forever as they enter the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame.

Since the inaugural Class of 2016, the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame has recognized and welcomed the most dedicated and decorated members of Canada’s rugby community to its growing list.

The Rugby Canada Hall of Fame was established to honour and preserve rugby’s culture and heritage in Canada by recognizing the extraordinary achievements of rugby participants throughout our country.

“This year’s class of inductees to the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame showcases nine outstanding women and men who have brought honour and fame, on and off the field, to the history of rugby in Canada,” said Mike Luke, Chair Rugby Canada’s Hall of Fame Project Team. “Their skills as former international rugby players and match officials, administrators and leaders in the game, has made them great contributors to Canada’s place in the world of rugby.”

Inductees will be celebrated at the 2024 HSBC Vancouver Sevens on Saturday February 24, 2024. Tickets for the HSBC Vancouver Sevens can be purchased at vansevens.com.

Please view a brief overview of the inductees below and click on the corresponding links to learn more about each inductee’s outstanding contributions to the sport of rugby in Canada.

CLASS OF 2023

RICK BOURNE – BUILDER

Bourne has held several positions at the national and international levels, serving on Rugby Canada’s Board of Directors from 2003 to 2019, including five years as President. He was Canada’s Rugby Americas North representative from 2012 to 2019 and currently holds an active position on the board of HSBC Vancouver Sevens as well as director roles with the Canadian Rugby Foundation and the Canadian Rugby 7s Fund. Rick is also a long-time Contributing Member to the Canadian Rugby Foundation Contributing Member.

Click Here For Full Bio 

 

Complete 2023 Class Announcement: https://rugby.ca/en/news/2023/12/rugby-canada-announces-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023

Maria Samson Appointed Chair of the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship

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As previously announced on November 16 at the 2023 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship banquet, Maria Samson has been appointed the Chair of the CUMRC Organizing Committee effective January 1, 2024.

Maria joined the CUMRC Board in January 2020 while she was still head coach for the Mount Royal University (MRU) Men’s Rugby team, and a member of the Rugby Canada Board of Directors. She was a highly decorated member of the Canadian Senior Women’s team as the 2012 Women’s XVs Rugby Canada Player of the Year and a 2014 Rugby World Cup Silver medalist. She also counts time with the McGill University Martlets, SABRFC, Windsor Rogues, Fort McMurray Knights, Alberta Wolfpack, Calgary Hornets and Calgary Saints, as well as travelling teams the Dog River Howlers, Stars Rugby and Canadian Classics.

Since joining the CUMRC Board, Maria has also served as Vice Chair of Rugby Canada, and only retired as the MRU head coach following their 2023 playoff run. Her CUMRC duties kept expanding and included her roles as our social media creator, broadcast commentator, Instagram interviewer and tournament director at the 2022 and 2023 championships, our rules and regulations head, and beginning in 2023, CUMRC Vice Chair.

Maria takes the reins from Jeff Chan, the current Chair and co-founder of the CUMRC in 2017. As has been recounted numerous times, in 2015-16, Jeff had been frustrated by the lack of a national university championship in Men’s Rugby which led to all university programs eending their schedules after their conference championships. Working with fellow co-founders Mike Holmes of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, which became the lead CUMRC financial sponsor, Doug Tate, the long-time head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes, and Bishop’s University rugby alumnus Keith Labbett, the foundation was laid at the inaugural 6-team tournament hosted by the University of Guelph in 2017. Except for the 2020 COVID year, the CUMRC has met all but one of its goals:

  1. grown (from 29 to 33 teams competing to qualify, and 8 teams in the tournament);
  2. helped develop the calibre and depth of university men’s players and programs across the country;
  3. been recognised as a crucial step in the pathway towards Canada’s Men’s senior team; and
  4. established and maintained the national university men’s rugby championship.

The lone exception is gaining the endorsement of Men’s Rugby by U SPORTS as an official sport, (as is the case for Women’s Rugby) and as it has been the case with the OUA and RSEQ conferences for many years. This remains a work in progress by Rugby Canada.

It is now time for the CUMRC to take another step in its evolution, with Maria taking the lead, working with the University of Ottawa as the 2024 host, coordinating the University Men’s Rugby Coaches Association, and working with the Canadian Rugby Foundation’s University Rugby Supporters Fund to continue to develop university Rugby Coaches across Canada.

Good luck Maria!

Tattyannah Jackson Wins Inaugural Rick Bourne Rugby Award

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Following the announcement of the new Rick Bourne Rugby Award during his induction into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame, in June 2023, we are now pleased to announce the inaugural winner of the Award, Tattyannah Jackson of East Gwillimbury, Ontario.

Tattyannah Jackson

Tattyannah is a third-year student at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON majoring in Sociology and Psychology. Her background in rugby has been relatively short, but has rapidly developed to a starting prop position on the Queen’s University Gaels, a top-3 university women’s rugby program in Canada, and a selection to the Ontario senior women’s and Canada’s U20 team in 2023. Her earlier development has come through the high school system and the Aurora Barbarians RFC with coach Nick Daniels.

Of her experience at Queen’s, she says “My time at Queen’s has been a wild ride over the last three years. I’ve had to take the time to discover myself as a person and a player. This team has helped me come out of my shell, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My experience here has been one-of-a-kind, thrilling, and once-in-a-lifetime, and has given me a sense of pride and accomplishment.

On her selection to the U20 team this past summer, Tattyannah says, “Being able to represent Canada’s U20 program has been one of my most recent accomplishments. It was an incredible opportunity to meet other female rugby players and play alongside some of the best players in the country. It taught me a lot to be able to play with such amazing women, and it meant a lot to form new friendships within that community. Knowing that my efforts and hard work were ultimately worthwhile gave me confidence and dignity. Moving forward, my goal will be to continue in the Canada age-grade program, with the goal of one day representing Canada at the senior women’s level.”

Looking ahead, her aspirations in rugby burn bright. “ I’m resolutely focused on donning the U23 Canada jersey, an honour that would signify a remarkable progression in my rugby career. Beyond that, I am steadfast in my commitment to reaching the pinnacle of the sport: the senior women’s team. The thought of representing my country on the international stage and competing at a Rugby World Cup fuels my training and propels me forward. Each step I take, both on and off the field, is driven by the indomitable spirit that rugby instilled in me.

Rick Bourne Rugby Award

The Rick Bourne Rugby Award provides an annual financial award of $2,000 and aims to support students of any gender who are actively involved in playing rugby in Canada. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of Rick Bourne, a prominent figure in the Canadian rugby community for over six decades. Rick Bourne’s leadership, passion and generosity have made a significant impact on rugby in Canada, making this award a deserving tribute to his legacy. The awards will be funded from donations to the endowment fund and earnings on the fund’s assets. More details on the award are here.

“We had many impressive candidates apply which is hopefully a fantastic sign of where rugby is headed in this country,” said Rick Bourne. “The selection criteria for this award consisted of a candidate’s active participation in rugby, a commitment to stay engaged in the sport and an overall commitment to the rugby community positively impacting the sport both on and off the field. Tattyannah Jackson, this year’s winner, is a testament to Tattyannah’s commitment to rugby and we very much look forward to this continued dedication to the sport and watching Tattyannah’s rugby career well into the future.”

On being notified of her award, Tattyannah stated, “I am truly honoured and grateful to be the first recipient of the Rick Bourne Rugby Award. Rick Bourne’s legacy in rugby is inspiring, and receiving this recognition is not only a personal achievement but also a reminder of the values and dedication that make rugby a special sport. I am thankful for the support and encouragement from the rugby community, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the spirit of the game.”