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An independent review of Rugby Canada’s High Performance program has been completed and released publicly. Initiated in November of 2020 following disappointing showings at the Olympics and the failure of the Senior Men’s team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023, the review is highly critical and blunt in its assessment of the organization’s structure, strategy, and culture.
The Review Panel was comprised of Megan Luu and Curtis Andrews from STRAAD Consulting, former Canadian Women’s Hockey team coach Mel Davidson, and World Rugby High Performance consultant Mike McGovern. Approximately 80 individuals participated in discussions with the Panel, and 108 responses were submitted from a survey conducted of current athletes, coaches, and support staff.
Facilitating the review on behalf of Rugby Canada were former CEO Allen Vansen and three members of the Board of Directors – David Fortier, Bill Webb, and Board Chair Sally Dennis. Additional independent Review Committee members were University of Ottawa Athletic Director Sue Hylland and former Penn State Athletics Integrity Officer Robert Boland.
The review identified a dozen key findings, number one being that “Rugby Canada does not have a High Performance strategy.” Others point to distrust of management, poor communications, unhealthy culture, and a strained relationship with the Canadian rugby community. It does however conclude that “change is possible and many hope to be a part of it.”
Some quotes from the executive summary include:
“The dysfunction of the system is ultimately a failure of leadership. Either through acts of ‘omission or commission’ the leadership of the organization – Board, executive, operations, and coaches – have not effectively managed the short-term and long-term needs of the High Performance program.”
“The culture of Rugby Canada and the High Performance program is described as ‘empty’ or ‘nonexistent’… Current players and High Performance program alumni confess that they are not proud to wear the Rugby Canada jersey.”
“…the organization will need to change on a broad scale. This change will require letting go of the past, embracing innovative approaches and empowering new voices… Ultimately, addressing the challenges of the High Performance program will require courageous leadership, with a willingness to make a material change to the organization’s system.”
A list of 12 key recommendations are made. First and foremost is the need to clearly define the role of national governance in order to establish a High Performance strategy. The review also calls for greater transparency, an evaluation of the current leadership and senior coaching group, and a shift of Rugby Canada’s ‘geographical presence’ with the remote location of the organization’s headquarters in Langford, BC, cited as being problematic.
The concluding paragraph reads as follows:
“The review has uncovered some difficult truths about the current state of the program, but the fact remains that there is broad interest across the Canadian Rugby community in contributing to setting the program on the right path. With the right leadership and committed action, this community can be rallied to support the writing of a new positive chapter in Rugby Canada’s proud history.”
Rugby Canada Board Chair Sally Dennis provided a statement with the release:
“The findings have confirmed the validity of a number of the concerns about our High Performance environment and culture that triggered the review. Some have already been addressed but the picture painted by the report confirms that significant changes must be made. We have listened and will now use this report as a springboard toward a stronger, better organization.
“My intention is to set in motion an inclusive and collaborative process to address the report’s findings with representation from staff, athletes and key external stakeholders. I’m looking forward to coming together as a rugby community to implement transformational change. The report’s findings are just the first stage in that process.”
The review in its entirety can be found here.
