Rugby Canada to host 19 International Rugby Unions in Richmond, BC
Ottawa, ON (October 18, 2016) – World Rugby, Rugby Canada, and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), have partnered to present the World Rugby Training and Education Conference in conjunction with the CAC’s 2016 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference (#SLS16) in Richmond, British Columbia. This is the first time Canada has played host to World Rugby’s annual conference.
The unique partnership will provide 35 delegates of World Rugby’s annual Training and Education Conference, held November 2–3, the opportunity to extend their professional development and participate in the sold-out 2016 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference from November 3–5.
World Rugby Head of Technical Services Mark Harrington said: “World Rugby is delighted to be partnering with Rugby Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada to run three important training and education conferences. First up is a meeting of the World Rugby/regional association training managers and technical services staff to review activities in 2016 and plan for further growth in 2017. Secondly, 19 unions will join the regional training managers to share best practice from around the globe. And finally, World Rugby staff and union employees will stay and support the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference.
“We are looking forward to this opportunity to hear experts speak on a range of important topics for the game. It will be a good chance for World Rugby and unions to share best practice while also allowing people to network with colleagues from other parts of the rugby world,” he continued.
World Rugby’s Training and Education Conference is an annual event focused on knowledge sharing and policy development of their health and wellness programs, safe sport practices, and research and education programs for Rugby Union athletes, coaches, and referees. As host to World Rugby’s Conference, Rugby Canada will welcome representatives of 19 fellow national rugby unions, including representatives from New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and Japan.
“Rugby Canada is excited to host the World Rugby Training and Education Conference and attend the CAC Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference in Richmond next month,” said Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen. “While we look forward to being a key speaker at the World Rugby Training and Education Conference, as we share our PlaySmart initiative, it is also an opportunity to strengthen our partnership with World Rugby and the CAC and to share best practices with our colleagues across the world and in Canada. Not many sports have the opportunity to network with other countries and share good practices in training and education, and these two conferences provide a chance to grow our knowledge and expertise.”
“World Rugby and Rugby Canada’s leadership in coach education and development is exceptional,” stated Lorraine Lafrenière, Chief Executive Officer of the CAC. “We are eager to partner with like-minded organizations who value professional development, networking, and education opportunities for their sport leaders. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership and their delegates’ presence will have on successful coach education development, both here in Canada and internationally.”
The 2016 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference will welcome 575 coaches, researchers, sport executives, and administrators to the CAC’s annual conference for sport leaders, including national rugby union coach education representatives. Over three days, #SLS16 conference speakers and delegates will focus their attention on diversity and inclusion as an opportunity to create a more powerful sport system. Both conferences will be held at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and the Richmond Olympic Oval.
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches.
For more information about the 2016 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference, including a detailed schedule and full list of speakers, please visit www.coach.ca/sportleadership, follow us on Twitter or on Facebook.
About World Rugby
World Rugby is the global governing body for the sport and owner of Rugby World Cup. With 121 national unions affiliated through six regional associations, World Rugby is responsible for the development and growth of rugby worldwide, the guardians of its regulations and laws and major international events, including Rugby World Cup, Women’s Rugby World Cup, the World Rugby Sevens Series and Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series, Pacific Nations Cup, Americas Pacific Cup, Cup of Nations, U20 World Championship and several others. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, World Rugby is investing a record £340 million in the development of the game between 2009-2016 in order that more men, women, and children can participate.
About Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Football has a long history in Canada dating back to its initial appearance in the 1860s. Since 1974, Rugby Canada has been a permanent fixture on the global rugby scene, including trips to each of the eight Men's Rugby World Cups and seven Women’s Rugby World Cups. As a regular on the Men’s and Women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Canada continues to climb the world rankings and challenge the dominant rugby nations in both versions of the game. Canada’s Women’s Rugby Sevens Team also made history in 2016, capturing the first-ever Bronze Medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
To support the growth of rugby at the grass-roots level and to ensure there are elite programs for prospering young rugby players to become involved with, Rugby Canada has put an emphasis on developing its junior programs. Our goal is to develop and train competitive teams for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland, the 2018 Sevens World Cup in San Francisco, the 2019 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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For more information, contact:
Michel Hachey
Manager, Communications
Coaching Association of Canada
613-235-5000, ext. 2382
613-858-0242 (Nov. 3–6, 2016)
mhachey@coach.ca
James Fitzgerald
Media Manager
World Rugby
James.Fitzgerald@worldrugby.org
Matt Tidcombe
Coordinator, Communications & Content
Rugby Canada
Cell: 250-858-0874
Tel: 905-707-8998
mtidcombe@rugbycanada.ca