Anyone who has been around the game of rugby will tell you that it has a high level of respect and community involvement. On and off the field players show each other respect and encouragement, and this support is carried on long after the final whistle. Rugby Canada\u2019s motto that unites players from St. John\u2019s to Victoria is \u2018Together and Strong\u2019 and the Canadian Rugby Foundation\u2019s support is benefiting players across the nation.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Rugby Foundation (CRF) was started in 2002 by a group of passionate rugby supporters who saw the need to establish a foundation for the long-term financial growth of Rugby in Canada. Since then the CRF has supported Canada\u2019s national teams, women\u2019s teams, development teams and promoted club rugby across the country. The Foundation is a one man operation based out of Victoria B.C., which collects sponsorship from people who are passionate about rugby and looking to give back to the game in Canada.<\/p>\n
The CRF is the main supporter of Canada\u2019s U-20 men\u2019s development team and is directly linked to the success they\u2019ve been having recently. Canada\u2019s success in the Under-20 program has been evident at world championships and through the team\u2019s development to Canada\u2019s senior men\u2019s programs. In the last 2 years, Canada\u2019s Under-20 team has produced eight players who are nationally capped, six players capped for Canada 7\u2019s, six national carded athletes and eighteen players who played in last year\u2019s America\u2019s Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n
Connor Braid, who plays for the James Bay Athletic Association, has been a member of Canada\u2019s U-20 team for the last two years, and is currently a member of Canada\u2019s elite carded athletes. Having represented Canada in Japan last year, Braid understands the value of having the Canadian Rugby Foundation\u2019s support of the U-20 team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve really noticed over the last two years the direct benefits of having the (Canadian) Rugby Foundation\u2019s support.\u201d says Braid. \u201cWe want the best players from across the country to represent Canada internationally and it\u2019s great for us and our parents to be financially secure.\u201d
\nIn the last year, over $150,000 has been raised for Canada\u2019s U-20 men\u2019s team and they are the only development side that is not under the \u2018Pay to Play\u2019 scenario. Head coach Tim Murdy is thankful for the foundation\u2019s support and can directly see how it benefits his players.
\n\u201cFor the past number of years, the Canadian Rugby Foundation has been very supportive of what we have been doing and our players and their families are very thankful of that.\u201d says Murdy. \u201cWe look forward to that continued support and assistance and a lot of the things we will accomplish in the future will be in large part due to the Canadian Rugby Foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of March 2010, the CRF is currently sitting at over one million dollars in endowed funds, which is money that has been invested, and the Foundation lets that money build while spending the interest. Fifteen years down the road from now, the Foundation would like to have banked over 20 million dollars which from there can continue to support men\u2019s and women\u2019s programs and get more boys and girls playing across the country.<\/p>\n