RUGBY CANADA PUBLISH UPDATED 2021-2023 STRATEGIC PLAN
Community
Rugby Canada is excited to release its new 3-year strategic plan covering 2021-2023. The plan has been approved by Rugby Canada’s board, and it establishes five key strategic pillars for the organization while also updating the vision and mission statements.
March 4, 2021 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada is excited to release its new 3-year strategic plan covering 2021-2023. The plan has been approved by Rugby Canada’s board, and it establishes five key strategic pillars for the organization while also updating the vision and mission statements.
The new strategic plan was assembled through consultation, collaboration and communication with various stakeholders. These included:
• Participant/Member survey
• Staff meetings and survey
• Provincial Union Board and staff consultations
• Rugby Canada Board review
• Facilitation with strategic planning professionals
In alignment with the results of the membership survey which reinforced the key role of Rugby Canada being “promoting participation in rugby,” the strategic pillars emphasize a focus on the community game in balance with performance programs. In addition, there are pillars addressing the need for innovation and financial resiliency, both highlighted during the recent COVID challenges.
The five strategic pillars for Rugby Canada spanning 2021 to 2023 are:
1. Cultivate the Community Game
2. Perform with Excellence
3. Protect Participant Welfare
4. Inspire Engagement in the Game
5. Build a Resilient Organization
“The five strategic pillars, along with their associated initiatives and targets, will form the basis for the projects we undertake and how we measure success over the next three years,” stated Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen. “Detailed tactics, timelines and associated metrics will ensure we are focused and deliberate in our delivery.” Vansen continued, “We have already seen success with some of our internal initiatives and are eager for the full return of our game so that we can fully activate this new strategic plan. We are committed to improving performance and delivering excellence at all levels of our game.”
In accordance with the strategic pillars, Rugby Canada has updated its vision and mission statements. Rugby Canada’s vision is “that all Canadians can choose rugby to try, play and win.” Its mission is “to deliver life-long, inclusive rugby experiences that cultivate participation and inspire excellence from community to club to country.”
“A vision should inspire action and point toward a target,” said Rugby Canada Chair Tim Powers. “It is our goal that we make rugby, in various forms, available to all Canadians at whatever level they choose to engage.” Powers added, “Although 15s and 7s rugby will remain the dominant versions of our sport, there are other options, such as Rookie Rugby for youth or Touch Rugby for those who are seeking a non-contact alternative, that can play a key role in growing our participation numbers moving forward.”
Rugby Canada has also reinforced the 5 values of INTEGRITY, PASSION, SOLIDARITY, DISCIPLINE and RESPECT for the organization, ensuring alignment with World Rugby, the global governing body.
Due to the potential on going impact of COVID-19 to operations and revenue generation, initiatives and targets set out in the strategic plan may need to be adjusted in response to pandemic influence.
“We’d like to thank all of our Provincial Union partners, athletes, staff, Board members, volunteers and other stakeholders who contributed to the development of this strategic plan,” stated Vansen. “Although COVID-19 has presented great challenges to all sporting organizations, we are excited to share this plan with the Canadian rugby community as we refocus the work we do coming out of the pandemic.”
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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 XV’s 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, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.
For more information, please contact: media@rugby.ca.