An independent review into Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 high-performance programs paints a damning picture of a dysfunctional organization at odds with its athletes, staff and supporters.
The review depicts a governing body too busy fighting fires to have any long-term strategy and athletes B次元官网网址渟hockedB次元官网网址� at how poorly they are treated when joining the high-performance program and feeling undervalued and ignored.
B次元官网网址淭he culture of Rugby Canada and the high-performance program is described as B次元官网网址榚mptyB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榥on-existent,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� the report states. B次元官网网址淚n this vacuum of culture and leadership, bad behaviours take hold across all areas of the program. The high-performance program is described as unhealthy or unsafe by many.
B次元官网网址淐urrent players and high-performance program alumni confess that they are not proud to wear the Rugby Canada jersey.B次元官网网址�
The review was commissioned by Rugby Canada in the wake of complaints raised by past and present members of the womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens team and the menB次元官网网址檚 15s teamB次元官网网址檚 first-ever failure to qualify for the World Cup.
The 17-page report is full of gut-punches.
B次元官网网址淲ithout a strategy to guide it, Rugby Canada appears to be in a constant state of crisis and overall performance suffers as a result,B次元官网网址� it says.
Rugby Canada is no stranger to reviews, with a history of commissioning them following failure to achieve on-field goals B次元官网网址� with coaches usually shunted to the side as a consequence.
And for many in a Canadian rugby community reeling on and off the field due to the pandemic, poor international results, inadequate funding, infighting and irritation at Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 progress or lack thereof, the negative view of the landscape will come as no surprise.
But this report pulls few punches.
B次元官网网址淭he dysfunction of the system is ultimately a failure of leadership,B次元官网网址� it says. B次元官网网址淓ither through acts of B次元官网网址榦mission or commissionB次元官网网址� the leadership of the organization B次元官网网址� board, executive, operations and coaches B次元官网网址� have not effectively managed the short-term and long-term needs of the high-performance program. Leadership has also failed to cultivate and nurture an environment that truly supports and enables high-performance athletes.
B次元官网网址淎s it currently stands, Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 high-performance athletes, support staff and even coaches are effectively revolting against the programB次元官网网址檚 system, leading to growing organizational dysfunction and a continued worsening of high-performance results.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 never a good sign in a high-performance review when one of its first B次元官网网址渒ey insightsB次元官网网址� is B次元官网网址淩ugby Canada does not have a high-performance strategy.B次元官网网址�
Among the other conclusions:
B次元官网网址� Development pathways are inconsistently effective;
B次元官网网址� Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渦nclear national governance roleB次元官网网址� limits high-performance program effectiveness;
B次元官网网址� Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 current organizational structure and resourcing are unable to support four high-performance teams;
B次元官网网址� Ineffectiveness of corporate and organizational governance exposes Rugby Canada to significant risk;
B次元官网网址� Rugby Canada has failed to create a healthy and effective high-performance culture;
B次元官网网址� Athletes do not view the high-performance program as a safe and inclusive environment;
B次元官网网址� Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 poor relationship with the Canadian rugby community is a constraint on the high-performance program.
Of the reportB次元官网网址檚 12 key insights, only one is positive. B次元官网网址淐hange is possible and many hope to be a part of it.B次元官网网址�
The report cites the push-and-pull tension within Rugby Canada between the sevens and 15s programs, which comes with different funding masters (World Rugby for the 15s and Own The Podium for the sevens) as well as debate over the need for distinct pathways for the two distinct forms of the game.
The womenB次元官网网址檚 15s team, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most competitive high-performance unit currently ranked fourth in the world, receives the smallest share of funding.
B次元官网网址淩ugby Canada appears to be avoiding decisions on what its high-performance priorities are,B次元官网网址� the review says.
The review states Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 high-performance program B次元官网网址渋s at a critical crossroads,B次元官网网址� with rival Tier 2 and 3 nations continuing B次元官网网址渢o evolve and improve.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he organization has arrived at this moment because of both on-field and off-field challenges: failure of the menB次元官网网址檚 15s team to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, disappointing results at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and multiple recent public-facing internal team issues.B次元官网网址�
Review recommendations include hiring a high-performance director distinct from coaching roles and establishing a high-performance strategy and clear national governance role. It also cites problems with Rugby Canada basing its operations and athletes in Langford on Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淟angford is not viewed as a positive place to live with it being framed as B次元官网网址榚xpensiveB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榠solated,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� it says.
In a five-paragraph news release on the report, Rugby Canada chair Sally Dennis said: B次元官网网址淭he findings have confirmed the validity of a number of the concerns about our high-performance environment and culture that triggered the review.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪ome 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.B次元官网网址�
Rugby Canada will B次元官网网址渟et in motion an inclusive and collaborative process to address the reportB次元官网网址檚 findings with representation from staff, athletes and key external stakeholders,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to coming together as a rugby community to implement transformational change. The reportB次元官网网址檚 findings are just the first stage in that process.B次元官网网址�
There is plenty of work to be done for the yet-to-be hired new CEO. But the review concludes Rugby Canada can change for the better.
B次元官网网址淭he 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.
B次元官网网址淲ith the right leadership and committed action, this community can be rallied to support the writing of a new positive chapter in Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 proud history.
The review urges Rugby Canada B次元官网网址渢o communicate this report fully and transparently in both response and respect for the time given by its stakeholders across Canada.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his first step is intended to demonstrate Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 willingness to take accountability, its willingness to change and its commitment to moving forward with inclusive intentions. The journey ahead will be difficult and will likely B次元官网网址榞et worse before it gets betterB次元官网网址� but with consistent effort Rugby Canada can chart a brighter future for the high-performance program.B次元官网网址�
The study was conducted by a review panel consisting of representatives of Straad Consulting, a Calgary-based management consulting firm, as well as Own The Podium high performance adviser Mel Davidson (former Hockey Canada womenB次元官网网址檚 coach and administrator) and high-performance consultant Mike McGovern.
The panel conducted more than 50 interviews/focus groups, with some 80 individuals participating, and received 108 survey responses.
A review committee B次元官网网址� consisting of Dennis, Rugby Canada board members David Fortier and Bill Webb, former CEO Allen Vansen, University of Ottawa director of varsity athletics Sue Hylland and Penn State professor Robert Boland B次元官网网址� was formed B次元官网网址渢o assist with the flow of information to the review panel and ensure it has access to relevant stakeholders and participants while ensuring the entire process remained inclusive and independent.B次元官网网址�
Interim Rugby Canada CEO Jamie Levchuk said the report was written by Straad B次元官网网址渨ith input from the subject matter experts on the review panel.
B次元官网网址淭he independent members of the review committee had the opportunity to provide comments to the review panel on a previous draft, but all decisions on its final content were made by Straad,B次元官网网址� he added.
B次元官网网址擭eil Davidson, The Canadian Press
