Category Archives: General News

Seasons Greetings 2024

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We wish you the very best as the holiday season quickly approaches. With the year-end also approaching this is a reminder that last-minute (or month) donations can still be made online, and even during the Canada Post strike, by numerous other means. Click here for your options.

You can make a donation to your favourite fund (now totalling 80) such as the Monty Heald Senior Women’s Fund which has their 2025 World Cup campaign coming up, or to the Unrestricted Fund of the Canadian Rugby Foundation. The Unrestricted Fund, apart from providing for our minimal overhead costs, supports the CRF’s major strategic initiatives such as Thunder Indigenous Rugby, the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship, and our 2025 Women’s and Men’s High-performance Rugby projects.

In Case of Strike

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At the end of 2024, the national postal strike was paused for the Industrial Inquiry Commission work to take place. At that time, the existing collective agreements between Canada Post and CUPW were reinstated and remain in effect until at least May 22, 2025. This means a labour disruption could happen as early as May 23. If this were to happen, the Foundation has numerous ways that donors can make a contribution without risking a cheque holdup in the mail system.

The most common method for smaller (less than $1,000) donations is on our CanadaHelps.org online platform. Donations can be made here by credit or debit card and PayPal. We say smaller because there is a CanadasHelps transaction fee we should avoid for larger donations which reduces the net amount contributed to the Foundation or an individual fund.

When the posties are working, cheques can be mailed to our P.O. Box here:

Canadian Rugby Foundation
709 Yates St., PO Box 8003
Victoria, BC, V8W 3R7

An alternate address for couriered cheques is:

Canadian Rugby Foundation
150-805 Cloverdale Ave.,
Victoria BC,
V8X2S9

We have always had the ability to accept bank wires using some or all of the following information (depends on your own bank’s requirements).

CRF Account #05030-7605617
Bank# 010
Swift# CIBCCATT

Bank Name: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Branch: Mayfair Shopping Centre
City: Victoria, BC
Routing Number (EFT) 001005030
Branch Transit Number 05030
Financial Institution Number 010
MICR Code (Routing Number) 05030-010

And finally, we recently added Interac donations at the following address which may be the easiest payment method for all donors:

Payments@canadianrugbyfoundation.ca

 

UBC’s Niko Andrianos Wins Rick Bourne Award

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We’re pleased to announce Niko Andrianos as the 2024 Rick Bourne Rugby Award winner. Niko is a standout rugby player at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has set ambitious goals for his athletic, academic and professional career. With a clear vision for the future, he aims to conclude his time at UBC by clinching two more national titles.

UBC Set to Host 2022 Canadian University Men's Rugby ...

Niko and Rick Bourne

As a dedicated athlete, Niko’s aspirations extend beyond collegiate competition. He dreams of wearing the Canadian national jersey and making his mark in professional rugby. This pursuit is fueled by his passion for the sport and his commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

In addition to his rugby ambitions, Niko is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at UBC and is equally devoted to giving back to the community. He plans to continue volunteering as a coach at local high schools, where he hopes to nurture and develop the next generation of rugby talent. By sharing his knowledge and experience, Niko aims to inspire young athletes and help them reach their full potential.

With his sights set on success in rugby and a commitment to community engagement, Niko Andrianos is a rising star who embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and leadership. As he progresses through his career, both in academics and athletics, the rugby community looks forward to witnessing his journey and achievements in the years to come.

Canadian Rugby Foundation Newsletter – August 2024

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Our 2024 Summer Newsletter is now available. Included are the latest Foundation news and announcements, highlights and updates from our Funds, some advice on fund-raising for fund sponsors, and a request to continue supporting rugby in Canada through our dedicated funds or the Foundation’s Unrestricted Fund.

 

SUPPORTING HIGH-PERFORMANCE RUGBY IN CANADA

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We are pleased to announce that at its last Board meeting, the Canadian Rugby Foundation allocated $55,000 from its 2024 Unrestricted Fund budget towards Men’s and Women’s High-Performance Rugby in Canada.

MEN’S HIGH-PERFORMANCE INITIATIVE

A Board Committee consisting of Chair Hans de Goede, John Lecky, and Jerry Marriot with Jamie Levchuk from Rugby Canada recommended the following allocation for the Men’s side based on input from Dr. John Gillis, Stephen Aboud and Nathan Bombrys: $27,500

• Ontario: $4,000
• Quebec $4,000
• Prairies: $3,500 (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba)
• 2024 Coast to Coast Cup in Halifax, $16,000 (including Atlantic Provinces)

The 2024 Coast to Coast Cup tournament is the highest level of senior men’s competition in the country, and runs June 19-22 in Halifax (the finals on June 22 at the Wanderers Grounds) and will feature the Atlantic Privateers, a combined Toronto Arrows Academy/Rugby Ontario team, the Prairie Fire, and a fourth team to be determined. The plan is for 2025 and beyond to have representatives from all regions of the country, and eventually West and East playoffs and a true national senior men’s championship.

WOMEN’S HIGH-PERFORMANCE INITIATIVE

A Board Committee consisting of Liz Ferguson (Chair), Colette McAuley, Stephanie White, Davine Burton, and Kevin Rouet (Rugby Canada) recommended the following allocation:

2024 University Rugby 7s Tournament hosted by Concordia University March 17 & 18: $7,000

2024 Canada West v Canada East camp, June 22 in Ottawa: $20,500.
Selection of players to participate will build on regional competitions (in Atlantic provinces, the BC
games, the ON/QU competition and a north/south Alberta competition, and exploring opportunities to include players in Saskatchewan & Manitoba). The intention is to involve many players on the cusp of national selection and those with the potential to get there in the next year or so.

 

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.

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

Rugby Legend Honoured with New Kevin ‘Lunk’ Wirachowski Award

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Friends, colleagues in the rugby, local, international, and business community,  and family of Kevin Wirachowski recently established a new Canadian Rugby Foundation Award Fund to create a lasting legacy for the man variously known as “Lunk’, ‘Lunker’ and ‘Lunkster”.

 

The Kevin ‘Lunk’ Wirachowski Award Fund provides funding from its endowment for an annual award that furthers the broad objectives and purposes of Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation by assisting successful applicants with their post-secondary education, thereby helping to grow and develop rugby in Canada.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Kevin ‘Lunk’ Wirachowski Award, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Active Participation: Applicants must demonstrate active involvement in playing rugby and a
    commitment to staying engaged in the sport. Applicant must be a current front-row player and actively engaged in developing their front-row skills
  2. Gender and Age: Applicants must be students actively participating in rugby in Canada. The award is open to all genders. Applicants must be between 17 and 24 years of age.
  3. Academic Enrollment: Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time or part-time degree (graduate or undergraduate), diploma or certificate program at a Canadian university, college or trade school, and be in good academic standing. The school program should commence in the academic year for which the award is granted. Students starting their studies in the fall semester are eligible.

 Selection Criteria:
The selection of the Kevin ‘Lunk’  Wirachowski Award recipient will be based on the following criteria:

  1. The extent to which the application, supporting letter and references demonstrate compliance with the eligibility criteria above.
  2. Contribution to the Rugby Community: Applicants should exhibit a recognized contribution to both the local community and the broader rugby community, showcasing their impact both on and off the field. Applicant must be in good standing with his or her School team, Club team, Provincial team, National Age-grade or senior team if applicable, and Community.
  3. Leadership: Demonstrated leadership on and off the field.

Further details on Lunk, the Award and 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