Rugby Canada Announce Community Grants: 38 Grants for Coaching in Schools – Deadline for Application November 7th
Rugby Canada has received some federal government money for Community Sport and they’re distributing it through several programs, the first is the Coaching in Schools initiative. They’ve committed to awarding 38 grants ranging from $1000 to $4500 for Coaching in Schools. The application form is here.
They’re also funding a Women in Coaching initiative, that has three separate funding streams for mentees, mentors and leadership. Details are below in the Rugby Canada article.
from Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada Launches Pathways to Empowerment
Rugby Canada is proud to announce that we are a recipient of the 2025-2026 Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI), a Sport Support Program. With this grant, Rugby Canada can officially launch Pathways to Empowerment, a national program designed to grow the game of rugby at the grassroots level. This is made possible through the support of provincial unions and community clubs, who play a crucial role in the project’s success. With their support, the project aims to reach thousands of young Canadians and build stronger pathways for participation, leadership, and long-term engagement in rugby. The program will be a cornerstone of Rugby Canada’s National Growth Plan – Canada’s rugby development roadmap for the next 5 years.
Pathways to Empowerment has two goals:
1. Strengthening club rugby through coaching in schools, particularly in underrepresented communities.
2. Increase representation of women in rugby leadership and coaching.
The program will consist of the following activities:
– Coaching in schools by grassroots rugby clubs.
– Mentoring for women coaches, including training new women mentors.
– Leadership training and development for women and girls.
To kickstart the program, Rugby Canada is offering grants directly to community members. These grants must fit into one of the three activity streams of Pathways to Empowerment. The selection process for grant recipients will be transparent and fair, ensuring that the most deserving projects are supported. This first phase runs from April 2025 to June 2025.
Funding for streams is divided as follows:
| Stream | Type of Support | Delivery Mechanism |
| Coaching in Schools | Direct financial support | 38 grants to clubs and coaches ranging from $1000 to $4,500 |
| Women in Coaching, Mentees | In-kind | Course cost + $150 travel reimbursement |
| Women in Coaching, Mentors | In-kind | Educator fees + $500 travel reimbursement |
| Women in Leadership | Direct financial support | 8 x $2,000 grants |
Key Information:
– Applications for coaching in schools and coach mentor candidates open in October 2025.
– Applications for Women in Leadership open in December 2025.
– Applications for coach-mentee candidates will open in November 2025.
– Coaching in schools can be delivered between November 2025 and June 2026.
Rugby Canada will share monthly updates to the community via social media. Rugby Canada will share a final report with the community in July 2026, providing an overview of the program’s accomplishments.
Grassroots sport programs, such as the CSAI, are crucial for the long-term growth of sports in Canada. School programs introduce rugby to children at an age where lifelong habits and interests are formed, ensuring more young people have the chance to experience the game’s values of teamwork, respect, and inclusivity. By creating a clear school-to-club pathway, Rugby Canada is laying the foundation for stronger community clubs and a sustainable player base.
Equally significant is the investment in women’s leadership and coaching development. While women’s participation in rugby continues to grow, representation in coaching and leadership positions remains underdeveloped. The CSAI Project directly addresses this gap by providing certification, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for women. These steps not only elevate the role of women in rugby but also enrich the sport by bringing more diverse voices and perspectives into leadership positions.
Together, these components ensure that Pathways to Empowerment is not just about numbers, but about building a culture of inclusivity, sustainability, and empowerment that will benefit Canadian rugby for years to come.
Women in Coaching Application HERE.
Coaching in Schools Application HERE.
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.