Sign Up Now for Rugby Canada’s community events in Ottawa!

June 16, 2023 (Ottawa, Ontario) – Rugby Canada, in partnership with World Rugby and Rugby Ontario, has planned a variety of community events in the Ottawa region in the lead up to the 2023 World Rugby Pacific Four Series that will see Canada Women’s Rugby Team, New Zealand, Australia and the USA faceoff in one of World Rugby’s most iconic competitions.

These community rugby activations are designed to provide unique opportunities for new and existing rugby players, coaches and referees in Eastern Ontario to experience rugby for the first time or in a new and exciting way. It is the goal of Rugby Canada, Rugby Ontario and World Rugby to ensure that anybody who wishes to participate in rugby can do so without barriers.

Ball Giveaway

To support the legacy and growth of rugby in the Ottawa area, Rugby Canada, with the help from Rugby Ontario, local clubs, and volunteers, will spend the final week of June delivering more than 3,000 rugby balls to over 300 schools in the region. This will ensure that moving forward, after the Pacific Four Series event has concluded in Ottawa, local schools will have the necessary equipment to deliver rugby to their students for years to come.

Let’s Play Rugby Festival presented by NFP

July 5th - 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Twin Elm Rugby Park

Rugby fans will have a chance to watch Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s open training session at Twin Elm Rugby Park on Wednesday July 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Afterward Rugby Canada will host a Let’s Play Rugby Festival presented by NFP from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for everyone under the age of 19. Four local U16 girls and boys teams as well as four U18 girls and boys teams will gather at Twin Elm that evening for a series of matches. Players from Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will be available for meet and greet opportunities throughout the evening.

Let’s Play Rugby Festival Sign-up: https://forms.office.com/r/nJTrkGtcis

Let’s Play Rugby presented by NFP – Club Community Visits

July 3 to 12 - Ottawa, Ontario

Multiple locations

Rugby Canada has planned Let’s Play Rugby presented by NFP Community Visits with six rugby clubs in Ottawa: the Ottawa Ospreys, Ottawa Irish, Ottawa Beavers and Banshees, Bytown Blues and the Barrhaven Scottish. This “Bring a Friend” event run by Rugby Canada staff will encourage current club players to invite their friends and family for a special introduction to the game of rugby. Rugby Canada will host 90-minute sessions which will include game-based activities and small group skill development.

To sign-up for the community visit with your club, click here: https://forms.office.com/r/Mg4Gu2043g

HSBC Rookie Rugby Festival

July 8th - 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

TD Place Stadium

On Saturday July 8, Rugby Canada, in partnership with Rugby Ontario, will be hosting a FREE HSBC Rookie Rugby Festival for children between the ages of 5 and 12.

This is an exciting opportunity for new and existing rugby players to participate in a fun, action-packed morning of non-contact rugby. The session will include various Rookie Rugby games and activities as well as the opportunity to play alongside current players from Canada’s Women’s Rugby Teams.

Sign-up Link (limited spaces available)

HSBC Rookie Rugby Anthem Walkout

July 8th and 14th - 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

TD Place Stadium

The HSBC Rookie Rugby Anthem Walkout will see existing female rugby players walk out on the field with Canada, New Zealand, USA and Australia for the national anthems before each match.

Sign-up Link (limited spaces available)

Let’s Play Rugby presented by NFP – Halftime Activation

July 8th and 14th 7:00 p.m.

TD Place Stadium

Local Ottawa rugby players between the ages of 13 to 16 will have a chance to play rugby on the field at TD Place Stadium during halftime of Canada’s games against New Zealand and Australia.

Sign-up Link (limited spaces available)

Coach and Match Officials

Rugby Canada will offer multiple coach and match official professional development opportunities both locally and nationally while Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia are in Ottawa for the Pacific Four Series. Registration information for the online sessions via Zoom will be shared with all the provincial unions, local referee societies and posted on Rugby Canada’s social media accounts. In-person opportunities with be shared with Rugby Ontario and all the local clubs.