Rugby Canada provides update on Regional Training Centres following initial consultations with potential partners

The first phase of consultations with potential partners for Rugby Canada’s Regional Training Centres (RTCs), a project to create high performance daily training environments across the country, have been completed, and Rugby Canada is now preparing to develop Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with specific regions. 

Outlined in Rugby Canada’s strategic plan as a core driver for the strategic priority of supporting our teams to win, the RTCs aim to broaden the range of opportunities for a greater volume of identified Canadian players to maximize their development and potential within Canada. The RTCs will play an integral role in the evolution of current national team players and the development of long-listed players to a national team level. 

Former Canadian rugby international Meaghan Howat leads the project as Program Director. Over the last year, over 100 unique consultations have been conducted, along with eight site visits and a survey of national team players. These consultations have involved engaging with national team staff, experts in sport science, sport medicine and sport psychology, five PSOs, over 25 universities and colleges, five Canadian Sport Institutes/Institut National du sport du Québec, World Rugby, AthletesCAN, and other Canadian NSOs as well as multiple municipalities, other rugby unions, and regional rugby stakeholders. This process of research and consultation is ongoing to ensure that the RTCs are based on a sustainable and thriving model for high performance player development.  

“The process of stakeholder engagement and consultation to advance high performance rugby has been exciting, and I am looking forward to the launch and growth of the RTCs to further support rugby in Canada,” said Howat. “Expanding our rugby infrastructure through the introduction of RTCs will improve opportunities for players to enhance their development domestically. Creating daily training environments that a great number of players can access will positively impact our player development and the volume of players with the potential to represent Canada.” 

"The aim of the RTCs is to allow Rugby Canada to provide an accessible service to players in the elite pathway to further develop their rugby potential,” said Stephen Aboud, Rugby Canada High Performance Director. “With the primary focus on rugby skills, game appreciation, and strength and conditioning, players will be able to support and supplement their club participation to better prepare for the challenges of elite rugby. The RTCs will go a long way to ensure our best players arrive in the best condition to represent Canada across our women’s and men’s programs.”  

Rugby Canada will now establish MOUs with the first set of preferred partners to engage in in-depth discussions on the potential of hosting an RTC. These MOUs will enable Rugby Canada and prospective partners to have detailed discussions about operations, funding, and future planning, and to further evaluate how partnerships will differ given various strengths and factors of partners and host cities. 

More information on the Regional Training Centres can be found here.