Rugby Canada Selection for 2024 Community Rugby Fund

 

Rugby Canada selects a record 22 clubs across the country for 2024 Community Rugby Fund

April 17, 2024 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada, with funding from the Government of Canada, are pleased to announce the 22 successful applicants for 2024 that will receive support through Rugby Canada’s Community Rugby Fund. This is the highest number of clubs selected in a single year since the fund began in 2021.

2024 marks the fourth year of the Community Rugby Fund, which was made possible through the federal government’s Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI). The fund supports National Sport Organizations (NSOs) in establishing more accessible and locally organized sport programs aimed at reducing barriers to participation, particularly among Black, Indigenous and racialized communities as well as 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, people with low incomes, and newcomers. A total of $16.7 million in funding was provided to 39 NSOs, including Rugby Canada.

This year, Rugby Canada received 67 applications from across Canada and with 22 recipients selected for 2024, a total of 49 applications have now been approved for funding since the Community Rugby Fund began in 2021.

For 2024, priority was given to rugby clubs, schools or community organizations who applied for grant funding that focused on cultivating the community game with special consideration given to projects that:

• Create or develop a school-to-club pathway to increase the number of registered rugby players participating in club rugby.
• Enhance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility of rugby within a club, educational institution, or community organization, particularly for Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and newcomers to Canada.
• Create new programs or develop existing programs that aim to introduce women and girls to the game of rugby.
• Build program delivery capacity through the development of Coaches or Match Officials within the rugby community.

“2024 marks a monumental year for the Community Rugby Fund,” said Jamie Levchuk, Managing Director of Operations and Game Development for Rugby Canada. “This year we are proud to select 22 new recipients and provide $100 000 in total funding for the successful clubs, schools and community organizations who all displayed the ability to grow community and grassroots rugby in Canada. I look forward to seeing the long-lasting impact all our successful applications will have on our game.”

 

2024 Community Rugby Fund Recipient List

Langley Rugby Club
Location: British Columbia
Focus: School-to-club pathway development & mixed abilities rugby

Aurora Wolves Rugby Union
Location: British Columbia
Focus: School-to-club pathway development

Axemen Rugby Club
Location: British Columbia
Focus: School-to-club pathway development

Belleville Bulldogs RFC
Location: Ontario
Focus: Programming for Women & Girls, Capacity Building

Brockville Privateers RFC
Location: Ontario
Focus: Programming for Women & Girls, Capacity Building, School-to-club pathway development

Calgary Hornets RFC 
Location: Alberta  
Focus: School-to-club pathway development 

Donald A. Wilson Secondary School
Location: Ontario
Focus: School-to-club pathway development

Edmonton Clansmen Rugby Football Club 
Location: Alberta 
Focus: New Youth Programming and Programming for Women & Girls

Elk Valley Rugby Football Club
Location: British Columbia
Focus Area: New Youth Programming & School-to-club pathway development

James Bay Athletic Association
Location: British Columbia
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development, Youth Leadership Programming

Manitoba Wombats
Location: Manitoba
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development

Mississauga Blues Rugby Club
Location: Ontario
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development, Youth Leadership Programming

Mont-Tremblant RFC
Location: Quebec
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development & Capacity Building

Nor’ Westers Athletic Association 
Location: Alberta  
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development, Programming for Women & Girls  

Ottawa Irish Rugby Club
Location: Ontario
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development

Ottawa Wolves Rugby Football Club
Location: Ontario
Focus Area: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming

Rainbow Griffins Rugby Football Club
Location: Ontario
Focus Area: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming

Thunder Rugby
Location: British Columbia
Focus Area: Indigenous Participation Programming

Toronto City Rugby Club
Location: Ontario
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development

Tri-County Regional Centre for Education
Location: Nova Scotia
Focus Area: School-to-club pathway development, New Youth Programming

Williams Lake Rugby Football Club
Location: British Columbia
Focus Area: Indigenous Participation Programming & School-to-club pathway development

Winnipeg High School Rugby
Location: Manitoba
Focus Area: Capacity Building & New Youth Programming

 

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RUGBY FUND

The Community Rugby Fund aims to benefit the sustainability and growth of rugby across Canada. The fund allows all registered rugby clubs, as well as schools and community organizations in Canada, to submit an application for funding based on the guidelines and criteria provided by the program. All submissions will be given equal consideration and recipients of the grants will be announced annually.

Details of the 2025 Community Rugby Fund will be announced early in 2025. For more information, please click HERE or email communityfund@rugby.ca

 

ABOUT RUGBY CANADA

Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, residing on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples, with staff also working from Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC SVNS Vancouver annual tournaments.

The Judy Seddon Memorial Award is open for applications from May 1st to July 15th. This $2000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a young woman who is involved in rugby in Alberta as an athlete, referee, coach or volunteer, selected on the basis of community service and academics, who is or will be enrolled in a post-secondary institution. Visit https://canadianrugbyfoundation.ca/index.php/judy-seddon-memorial-scholarship/ for details.
Eligibility:

A current female student who is:

1. Involved in the sport of rugby as a player, coach, administrator, volunteer or referee.
2. Enrolled in a full-time degree (graduate or undergraduate), diploma or certificate program at a Canadian college or university for the academic year commencing in the year in which the scholarship is granted. Students commencing their studies in the Fall are eligible.

General Guidelines:

1. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in a subsequent year.
2. Successful recipients may not apply again.
3. The scholarship is conditional upon the acceptance and continuance in the educational program of the applicant’s choice. Verification of acceptance will be required.
4. The award recipient must agree to have her name and photograph publicized. Judy Seddon’s family may wish to personally award the scholarship if feasible.

Application Procedures:

>Applications open May 1st and close July 15th. The successful applicant will be notified by July 31st. Only the winner will be notified.

An application can be submitted via this Google Form: https://forms.gle/MMcpRN1PxqUwyTFx7

The Google Form is the preferred method of application, but if there are issues with the above form, the applicant can instead e-mail the information listed below to judyseddonmemorialscholarship@gmail.com:

1. Applicant’s full name, date of birth, address, phone number and e-mail address.
2. Name, address, program and year of study for the educational institution you will be attending in the fall.
3. A 250 word letter, describing why you would be a worthy recipient of the Judy Seddon Memorial Scholarship. Include your contribution to the rugby community, other volunteer activities, your academic achievements, your most important accomplishments and your future goals.
4. Two letters of reference (PDF files please).
5. Name and contact information (phone and e-mail address) for the individuals who provided the two letters of reference.

 

Wolf Pack Rugby Program Leads

Rugby Alberta is seeking Program Leads for its Wolf Pack Rugby Teams. Our new Program Leads will help us grow, engage, and deepen the connection we have with our community of athletes, coaches, and parents by executing the programs in positive, purposeful, and professional ways. Rugby Alberta Program Leads will work collaboratively to provide a performance program for Age grade and senior programs for male and female players over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

With support from the Rugby Alberta, the Program leads will be responsible for the delivery of a positive and holistic high-performance program that supports both individual player development and team success. In addition to on-field success, the Coach is committed to long-term player development, the overall promotion of the game and to operating within the guidelines of a provincial program that is consistent across all levels and ensures Rugby Alberta programs are aa reflection of the Alberta Way.

Job requirements

• NCCP Level 2 Certified is preferred, however, Rugby Alberta will accept applications from NCCP Level 2 Trained coaches who wish to use the age-grade performance programs to conduct their coach evaluation to compete their certification.
• Rugby ready and concussion management (World Rugby Passport Certificates)
• Experience coaching age grade or club rugby in Alberta
• Criminal Record Check & Vulnerable Sector Check
• Willingness to implement Rugby Alberta Structure and principles of play
• This is to ensure preparation and continuity for players in the Pathway
• Experience in a rugby coaching role or a role that developed technical skills in program design and delivery
• Experience working with and communicating effectively with a number of different people from diverse backgrounds
• Flexibility to travel
• Supervisory skills with delegation of areas of responsibility
• Team building and group dynamics skills
• Dispute resolution and conflict management skills
• Excellent communication and creative problem-solving skills

Job responsibilities

• Abide by RUGBY ALBERTA code of conduct
• Scout and recruit players during the season
• Run practices leading up to regional and national championships
• Implementation of Rugby Alberta structure and principles of play
• Provide appropriate guidance and feedback before during and after games relative to team performance
• Provide feedback to athletes who do not make the squads
• Give feedback to Alberta selectors to aide with selection if asked
• Provide positive encouragement while recognizing potential pressure points with players and easing back on training accordingly.
• Aim for the absolute best for these high-performance athletes, creating an environment of hard work, encouragement and positive reinforcement of the boundaries and personal expectations.
• Contribute to the overall management of the programme by taking part in meetings and other activities as needed; and Keep up to d ate with industry best practice and attend any training or undertake
• development opportunities as needed.
• Work collaboratively with the Rugby Alberta  Technical Director to develop, refine, and execute a team plan that maximizes player development.
• Deliver safe, fun, and impactful practices, training camps, and preparation for exhibition and competitive matches.
• Adhere to World Rugby’s Player Welfare and Rugby Canada’s Playsafe protocol of ‘Recognise and Remove’ at all times and promote a culture of disclosing injury and symptoms of concussion.
• Attend the 2022 Alberta Regional Championships (ARC) 7s in Janurary 22-23rd at Foote Field in Edmonton and ARC 15s in July (TBD)
• Lead team at the 2022 Western Canada Rugby Championships on July 28-31 at Kelowna (NB: U16 to U18 only).

The following skills and abilities will help the Coach succeed in the role:

• Strong leadership skills and ability to inspire
• Empathy and understanding of individual needs
• Awareness of cultural differences and supportive of athletes of all backgrounds
• Ability to identify and develop strong relationships at all levels
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strategic analytical and problem-solving skills
• Professional manner and approach
• Self-motivated with an ability to work unsupervised

Responsibilities

• Responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to:
• Design Practice Plans to address technical deficiencies of academy players;
• Develop and Deliver an Individual Development Plans (“ IDP ”) for each Academy player;
• Develop Key Performance Indicators with each player, in conjunction with the Head Coach, which is specific to each IDP;
• Deliver regular feedback / reviews / previews of training sessions and fixtures that link to IDP and ongoing learning.
• Provide, in conjunction with the Head Coach, both practical and theoretical sessions to individuals, units or teams within the performance pathway as required. 

Application Process

Please submit the following and follow these instructions:

• Resume (in PDF format, titled “[ Resume – FirstName LastName ]”)
• Cover Letter (in PDF format, titled “[ Cover Letter – FirstName LastName ]”)
• Two references who can speak to your skills and experience

Interviews will be conducted by Rugby Alberta staff through video conferencing technology in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The closing date for these positions is Dec 31^st 2021. Please specify what age group and gender you are applying for with your cover letter.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Rugby Alberta Executive Director Peter Houlihan at p.houlihan@rugbyalberta.com

WP Program Leads .pdf