A Look at Rugby 7s Funding Numbers from Own the Podium; Maple Leafs Entered in LA 7s Invitational Men’s Elite Division; Scott Johnson from Rugby Australia Director of Rugby to Rugby Canada High Performance Consultant
Rugby 7s Funding by Own the Podium
In the Tokyo quinquennial the women’s rugby 7s program and Rugby Canada received $10,487,500 in funding from Own the Podium. This was due to the hard work put in by the 2016 Olympic team who won Bronze under the coaching of John Tait. Under the Paris triennial they are no longer listed under Summer Sport Funding, they’ve been moved to the Team Sport Strategy category with the note, “team sports considered to be medal potential for 2024 are included under the Summer Sport Funding category”. They are now listed alongside the men’s program. They’ll receive $1,050,000 in funding for 2022-23. The men’s program will receive $575,000, an improvement over the $130,000 they received in the Tokyo quinquennial.
You can read the numbers at https://www.ownthepodium.org/en-CA/Funding/
LA7s Invitational
The LA 7s Invitational kicks off on Friday. The Canadian men are sending a Maple Leaf development squad, we’re waiting for the list of names. There seems to be some top competition with development squads from USA, France, Ireland, Japan also entered in the men’s Elite division. The womens’ Elite division seems to be mostly clubs with only Mexico entering a national development side. In the men’s Premier bracket, Quebec are entering a team, coached by 7s legend Freddie Asselin.
Mens Elite 7s
Registration – Closed
1. Canada Maple Leafs Dev
2. France Development
3. Hartford Harpooners Men
4. Ireland Men Invitational
5. Japan Development
6. Pacific Nomads
7. Rhinos Rugby Black
8. Sacra Eagles NorthBay Warriors
9. Seventise Rugby France
10. USA Falcons
Womens Elite 7s
Registration Closed
1. Belmont Shore Women
2. Chicago Lions Women
3. Coast Guard Women
4. Hartford Harpooners W
5. Legends Rugby Academy
6. Mexico WNT
7. No Cal Grizzlies Women
8. Old Blue Women
9. Rhinos – Black Women
10. Rhinos – Green Women
11. Roots Women
12. Scion Rugby
Mens Premier 7s
Registration Open
1. Atlantis
2. Beach Cities Rugby
3. Belmont Shore RFC
4. Chicago Lions Men
5. Coast Guard
6. Eagle Rock
7. Find Rugby Now UK
8. France South Sevens
9. Gladiator Strong
10. No California Grizzlies Men
11. Rhinos Rugby – Green
12. Roots Men
13. Rugby Quebec
14.
PLUS 3 Teams TDB
You can read more at https://lasevensrugby.com/uploads/images/lai/2023_LAI-Divisions_rev4.pdf
Scott Johnson and Rugby Canada
Scott Johnson has an interesting rugby CV, he’s been the coach of Wales, USA, Scotland and most recently the Director of Rugby at Australia until 2022. So what was he doing in Rugby Canada kit at the U20 camp last weekend. We’ve been trying to find out. The Rugby Canada High Performance Review did call for the implementation of a High Performance Director (HPD) in their recommendations but we’ve been told that’s not it. Apparently he’ll act as a High Performance Consultant, supporting the coaches and the High Performance Director when selected.
You can read more on Scott Johnson at https://www.planetrugby.com/scott-johnson-to-leave-role-as-rugby-australias-director-of-rugby and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Johnson_(rugby_union)
