Team Canada, including Phil Mack, will take on Brazil as part of the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship at Westhills Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 17. (File photo)

Team Canada, including Phil Mack, will take on Brazil as part of the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship at Westhills Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 17. (File photo)

Rugby Canada receives funding for goal of earning World Cup berth

Rugby Canada could lose roughly $1 million annually if the men's 15s doesn't qualify

  • Apr. 10, 2018 12:00 a.m.

Rugby Canada will need $450,000 for the next eight months to pay staff and players to train for the repechage tournament in November, as per a statement by Rugby Canada.

The national men’s 15s rugby team had a chance to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in February, but lost to Uruguay 70-60 after a two-game aggregate-point series. Uruguay beat Canada in the first game 38-29 and 32-31 in the second.

Head coach Kingsley Jones developed a detailed plan that includes hiring a full-time assistant defence specialist coach to assist him. The money will also be spent on keeping professional European players in Langford for the centralized program to practice and play in at least a dozen test matches before the repechage tournament.

Rugby Canada worked with the Provincial Rugby Unions to raise the additional funds, and it was decided by a majority vote to increase dues to come up with the funds. If the men’s team qualifies for the 2018 repechage tournament, Rugby Canada will receive $450,000 in 2018 and again in 2019 – in addition to the investment it receives from World Rugby.

Rugby Canada receives more than $2 million annually from World Rugby for all national senior team and U-20 men’s programs. If Canada does not qualify for the 2019 men’s Rugby World Cup it could mean a loss of more than $1 million annually from World Rugby.

lindsey.horsting@goldstream gazette.com

Goldstream News Gazette