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.
