Canadian Rugby Foundation announces the Women’s Age Grade Rugby Fund

The Canadian Rugby Foundation, in conjunction with Rugby Canada, has announced the development of the Women’s Age Grade Rugby Fund, which has been established to raise and invest funds to support Rugby Canada’s women’s age grade teams and programs.

These U18, U20 and U23 programs develop up-and-coming players and coaches through a coordinated national pathway that leads towards the senior sevens and 15s programs, working in close collaboration with communities, clubs, schools, universities and provincial unions.

The goal of the Women’s Age Grade Rugby Fund is to invest in the future of women’s rugby in Canada by raising $2 million by 2025.

One hundred percent of funds raised will provide direct support to the program through reduction of the national age grade pay to play model, with the aim of alleviating costs associated with travel, equipment, and training. An endowment fund that will grow year after year, the hope is to enable the advancement of age grade initiatives and support the long-term growth of women’s rugby in Canada.

“Having the opportunity to play through Rugby Canada’s age grade systems was a huge step in my development as a young player,” said Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team captain Sophie de Goede. “Those experiences were a bridge from my club, provincial and university teams to the national team, and they provided insight into the professionalism and dedication it takes to wear the maple leaf. I could not be more grateful for the opportunities and coaches I had at the age grade level and the incredible teammates and friends I was fortunate to meet through those teams.”

Last year, Rugby Canada announced the relaunch of the national women’s age grade programming. This July, in conjunction with the Canadian-hosted Pacific Four Series rounds in Ottawa, Canada’s U20 Women’s Team will play matches of their own in Canada’s capital, including a curtain raiser at TD Place on July 8 ahead of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team vs New Zealand. More information about this summer’s U18 and U23 women’s programming will be announced shortly.

“Having a connected and cohesive high performance pathway for player development is vital to the growth and prosperity of women’s rugby in Canada, and we are greatly looking forward to the revitalization of our women’s age grade programs this year,” said Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Head Coach Kevin Rouet. “The Women’s Age Grade Rugby Fund is an important tool in helping our next generation of women’s rugby players experience elite training and competition on the international stage.”

The Canadian Rugby Foundation will be hosting a fundraising event for the Women’s Age Grade Rugby Fund in Ottawa alongside the Pacific Four Series. An evening of inspiration, gathering and merriment in support of the future of women’s rugby in Canada, this will be the second “Raising the Uprights” event, the first having taken place earlier this year in Vancouver ahead of HSBC Canada Sevens, raising $20,000 for the Fund.

Registration for the event, which will take place Sunday July 9 from 11:00am to 1:30pm ET at Barley Mow Westboro in Ottawa, is open here. For more information, or to donate directly to the Women’s Age Grade Rugby Fund, please visit the Canadian Rugby Foundation website here.

About the Canadian Rugby Foundation

The Canadian Rugby Foundation was established in 2003 as a non-share capital corporation incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada) designated as a public foundation (registration number 869159186).

The Foundation’s mandate is to encourage and build permanent endowed funds, student award funds and capital project funds the income or capital from which will be used to promote and support rugby activities, including but not limited to, players, clubs, coaches, officials, administrators, and rugby organizations – all to support the growth and development of rugby in Canada.

Among its now 68 funds, the CRF has dedicated funds to support Rugby Canada's age-grade and senior teams and programs such as the Monty Heald Senior Women’s Fund, the U20 (Men’s) Fund, the Hong Kong & Olympic 7s Fund, and the new Women’s Age-grade Rugby Fund.