John Tait Named as CEO of BC Rugby Union
The BCRU have finally chosen John Tait as the permanent CEO after two stints as interim CEO. Hopefully this provides some stability and direction to BC Rugby. I’ve lost track of all the CEO options the BCRU have tried over the last decade, none of them had a Canadian rugby background, or are memorable for what they accomplished in BC Rugby. Perhaps the best of the bunch was Jeff Sauve (2004-2013), he then went on to Field Hockey Canada and is now with Scouts Canada I believe. He at least had some understanding of Canadian rugby coming in, as he was with Rugby Canada in the marketing department previously. Then was Jim Dixon, back in Australia, Annabel Kehoe, back in Australia, and then David Newson from Semiahmoo Hockey, thinks he’s back with them, and Matthew Carter from Lotus F1, think he’s still operating his consulting company.
There are a lot of opinions on what constitutes success for rugby in BC. Growing the game among youth would be one, healthy clubs would be another, both of those would be on most people’s list. Then there’s elite rugby development, pathways to the national team, that would be on some lists. From my Editor’s perspective, a high profile BC Premier is on the wish list, more quality live streams with commentary, pushing rugby back into the mainstream media in BC, a position it once held. I think this can only be achieved if BC Rugby sets up a separate, arms length, governing entity with decision making just for the BC Premier. I’m not holding my breath, I’m not sure it’s high on the BCRU agenda, and would have to be championed by a group of BC Premier clubs, a high profile sponsor, or a group of wealthy rugby investors.
Anyway, good luck to John, I hope he stays in the position for a substantial amount of time and checks off some accomplishments along the way. He’s been through a lot but as the saying goes, “the gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials”.
from BCRU
British Columbia Rugby Union (BC Rugby) is pleased to announce the appointment of John Tait as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The announcement follows a thorough search process including numerous qualified candidates and caps a five-year journey with the organisation during which Tait has become an integral part of BC Rugby’s leadership and success.
A former Canadian national team player and coach, Tait brings a track record of success at the highest levels of the sport. Tait joined BC Rugby in 2021 as Technical Director, where he played a central role in strengthening the province’s coaching pathways and high-performance programs. He has twice served as Interim CEO, steadying and guiding the organisation through periods of transition while continuing to demonstrate the strategic vision, operational strength, and dedication to the sport that makes him a natural choice for the permanent role.
“John has spent the last five years earning the trust and respect of our board, clubs, and staff,” said Bob Strachan, Chair of the BC Rugby CEO search committee. “His time as Interim CEO showed us exactly what he could do at the helm — steady leadership, a clear vision for growing the game in this province, and a genuine commitment to everyone who plays and works in rugby here in B.C. The Board is confident that John is the right person to lead BC Rugby into its next chapter with a new strategic plan.”
“I’m honoured to take on this role and to continue the work we’ve been building together over these past five years,” said John Tait, incoming CEO of BC Rugby. “Rugby in this province means a great deal to me, from our grassroots clubs right up to our high-performance athletes. My focus is on building the programs and the culture that drive real success on the field: winning teams, strong pathways from club rugby, and a province that produces players who compete at the highest level.”
BC Rugby is the governing body for rugby in British Columbia, representing thousands of players through its network of member clubs across the province.