Canadian Rugby Foundation Updates – January 2026

Canadian Rugby Foundation Assets to Reach $30M by June with Additional Funds from Fletcher’s Field Limited (FFL)

The Canadian Rugby Foundation currently has about $27M invested in the future of Canadian rugby and that will rise to over $30M with additional funds from Fletcher’s Field Limited. The Foundation made over $1M in fund distributions in 2024, they have over 90 funds, mostly club funds, and the funds receive annual interest payments. The Foundation also has an Unrestricted Fund which supports initiatives such as the University Men’s Rugby Championship and the CRF University Coaches Awards which sends coaches to the Crusaders Global Academy in Christchurch. This year initiatives like the BC vs Ontario Men’s summer series, the BC v Alberta Women’s series,  the Ontario v Quebec Women’s series will be funded by the CRF. Last year Rugby Canada thanked the CRF for the “more than $300,000 in support directly to Rugby Canada programs, including a large contribution from the Monty Heald Senior National Women’s Fund to the Mission: Win Rugby World Cup campaign.”

You can donate to one of the 90 funds or get the Foundation to open a fund for your club. Currently BC clubs who have CRF funds include Bayside, BC Grassroots Rugby, Capilano, CW, Central Okanagan, Crimson Tide Youth, Lone Oak Legends, Meraloma, Pacific Pride, Thunder Indigenous, UVic, VIRU, Westshore plus there are a number of award funds in the name of individuals associated with clubs like the Tillman Briggs Capital Fund (JBAA).

CRF Media Release

On November 23, 2021, the Canadian Rugby Foundation (the Foundation) was pleased to accept a historic donation in the amount of $11.65 million from Fletcher’s Field Limited (FFL), this following the sale of its Fletcher’s Fields rugby facility in Markham, Ontario to the City of Markham.

Now, just over four years later, the shareholders and Board of Fletcher’s Fields have unanimously followed up their 2021 donation with an additional $7.7 million being added to the six existing FFL endowment funds. These funds will be donated in two tranches on January 15 and June 30, 2026. Including an additional $1.5 million that was donated to the Toronto Scottish FFL Fund in 2025, this brings the total FFL contribution to the Foundation to $20.85 million.

Fletcher’s Fields was originally established in 1966 and served the needs of the rugby community in Ontario for 59 years. In that time Fletcher’s Fields hosted Canada versus England, Ireland, Wales, USA, Argentina and Japan, and many Canada and Ontario age-grade tournaments and championships.

While Fletcher’s Fields ceased operations in 2024 following its Summer Celebration of Rugby, its legacy continues on with great memories of game performances and social gatherings on and off the Fletcher’s pitches, and through the subsequent performances of players, coaches, officials, and rugby administrators who met, played, and developed their skills at Fletcher’s Fields through the years. And importantly, the proceeds of the property sale have created very significant endowment funds that will benefit current and future members of the 6 shareholders and through the Rugby Ontario RO Fund, and the Fletcher’s Patrons fund, clubs all across Ontario.

The increase in the Foundation’s assets, which will now exceed $30 million at the end of June will enable more initiatives with greater impact that support the growth of rugby in Ontario and across Canada.

Said Steve Hall, the Fletcher’s Fields Chair, “since our original donation of $11.65 million to the Canadian Rugby Foundation, the wisdom of that decision has been repeatedly proven. Our involvement on the CRF Board, and the subsequent election of one of our Directors (Jerry Marriott) to the CRF Executive Committee and Investment Committee has enabled Fletcher’s Fields to observe how the Foundation operates, and the quality of its stewardship over the assets in the FFL endowment funds, and indeed all 90 of the Foundation’s funds. That involvement has also helped shaped the Foundation’s strategy, and growing contributions to the growth and development of rugby in Ontario and more broadly, the entire country.

It’s because our trust in the Canadian Rugby Foundation has been so well earned, and our partnership with the leadership of the Foundation has been so productive, that the FFL Board and its shareholders unanimously supported the additional donations that complete the divestment of all funds from the sale of the Fletcher’s Fields property”.

“The Canadian Rugby Foundation is very appreciative of the Fletcher’s Field group for following up its historic 2021 donation with these 2025 and 2026 contributions to the Foundation, bringing its total donation to $20.85 million, arguably the largest combined gift to an athletic endowment in Canadian history. We are committed to continue to grow our endowment funds and assist the growth of grassroots rugby across Canada”, added Mike Holmes, the Foundation’s Chair.

Added Jeff Chan, the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, “in addition to the oversight we provide to the 6 FFL funds, we continue to finance the Fletcher’s Patrons Fund honouring the Fletcher’s Field “Patrons” who in 1995-1996 helped finance major renovations to the clubhouse, pitches, and score board, and grandstands at the property. The Patrons Fund now totals over $165,000 having grown from the Foundation’s original $120,000 contribution, and its annual returns are directed by its FFL trustees towards new grassroots initiatives that will help develop rugby in the Province of Ontario”.

Fletcher’s Fields Limited

There are six equal shareholders of FFL as follows: Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club Inc., Markham Irish Canadian Rugby Club, Rugby Ontario, The Nomads Rugby Football Club of Toronto Inc., The Toronto Saracens Rugby Football Club, and the Toronto Scottish Rugby Football Club.

The four FFL-nominated Directors elected to the Foundation’s Board of Directors are Jerry Marriott, Andrew Wright, David Butler, and most recently, Tim Matthews.

Canadian Rugby Foundation

The Canadian Rugby Foundation, established in 2003, is a non-share capital corporation incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada) designated as a public foundation (registration number 869159186). The mission of the Foundation is to contribute to the growth and development of rugby in Canada by “Investing in the Future of Canadian Rugby”. To accomplish this, the Foundation creates and manages endowed funds or awards funds in partnership with local rugby clubs and Fund sponsoring individuals or organizations to promote and support rugby activities by making grants to and through qualified donees.

For more information, please contact any of the below:

For Canadian Rugby Foundation
Michael Holmes
Chair
Email: mike@phre.ca

Jeff Chan
Chief Executive Officer
Email: jeffachan@gmail.com

For Fletcher’s Fields Limited
Steve Hall
Chair, President
Email: steve@spell-bound.ca

Pat Hodgins
Chief Executive Officer,
Email: pjhodgins23@gmail.com