Rugby Ontario Launches Community of Practice Pilot to Support Club Leaders
Rugby Ontario is launching a new Club Development Community of Practice (CoP) pilot designed to help club leaders connect, share ideas, and strengthen club operations across the province.
The initiative will bring together club presidents, board members, administrators, and volunteers in a collaborative learning environment where they can discuss common challenges and exchange practical solutions with peers from other clubs. The goal is to create an ongoing space where clubs can learn from each other’s experiences and build stronger practices that support the long-term success of rugby in their communities.
The Community of Practice will be facilitated by Rugby Ontario’s Rugby Development Consultants (RDCs) and will focus on three key areas of club development:
| Group | Focus | Moderator |
| Strategic Planning | Club vision, setting priorities, and planning for long-term sustainability and growth | Liz McCaw |
| Governance | Board structure, leadership practices, policies, and decision-making processes | Liz McCaw |
| Project Management | Strategies and tools to effectively deliver events, initiatives, and club projects | Mark Perrin |
To make participation accessible for busy volunteers, the pilot will operate through three topic-based WhatsApp discussion groups, each moderated by a Rugby Development Consultant. Participants will engage through short weekly discussion prompts, peer sharing, and practical resource sharing.
The pilot will run for one month, after which Rugby Ontario will gather feedback from participants to help shape future club development support.
Clubs are encouraged to register 1–3 leaders who would benefit from participating in these discussions. Participants can choose to join one or more of the topic groups depending on their interests.
Interested in joining?
Clubs and individuals interested in participating in the Community of Practice pilot are invited to review the Rules of Engagement and complete the CoP registration.
Join the conversation and connect with other clubs working to strengthen rugby across Ontario.
