Building the Future of Rugby in Ontario – From Where We Are to Where We’re Going
Rugby Ontario is entering an important new chapter in the continued growth and development of rugby across the province.
Our current Strategic Plan has provided a foundation for strengthening Rugby Ontario, supporting our member clubs and communities, increasing opportunities to participate, building greater belonging within the sport, and investing in the people and systems that will help rugby thrive into the future.
As we look ahead, we know the environment around sport and rugby continues to evolve. Participation expectations are changing. Communities and clubs are facing new challenges. The pathways for athletes, coaches, match officials, volunteers and leaders continue to develop. At the same time, there are significant opportunities to grow the game, strengthen our rugby community and create better experiences for everyone involved.
That is why Rugby Ontario is taking a deliberate, evidence-informed and collaborative approach to developing our 2027–2031 Strategic Plan.
Our Current Strategic Plan
The current Strategic Plan established a clear direction for Rugby Ontario: to lead, support and promote Rugby For All – from communities to clubs to province.
The plan focused on strengthening the foundations of the sport while responding to the changing needs of our members and communities.
Key areas of focus include:
Support the Club Community
Strengthening the capacity, sustainability and effectiveness of member clubs and supporting them in creating quality rugby experiences within their communities.
Strengthening the capacity, sustainability and effectiveness of member clubs and supporting them in creating quality rugby experiences within their communities.
Build Belonging
Creating a rugby environment where more people feel welcomed, valued and connected, while addressing barriers to participation and strengthening inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.
Creating a rugby environment where more people feel welcomed, valued and connected, while addressing barriers to participation and strengthening inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.
Invest in the Future
Developing the people, leaders, volunteers, pathways and resources needed to create a sustainable future for rugby in Ontario.
Developing the people, leaders, volunteers, pathways and resources needed to create a sustainable future for rugby in Ontario.
Strengthen Organizational and Financial Resilience
Building strong governance, leadership, financial sustainability, partnerships and organizational systems that allow Rugby Ontario to serve the sport effectively.
Building strong governance, leadership, financial sustainability, partnerships and organizational systems that allow Rugby Ontario to serve the sport effectively.
Grow the Game
Expanding opportunities to discover, participate in and remain connected to rugby across different ages, communities, playing formats and roles.
Expanding opportunities to discover, participate in and remain connected to rugby across different ages, communities, playing formats and roles.
These priorities have helped shape initiatives ranging from club development and youth engagement to women in leadership, non-contact rugby, development networks and initiatives designed to strengthen participation and retention.
Looking Ahead: Strategic Plan 2027–2031
A strategic plan should not simply describe where an organization wants to go. It should be grounded in a clear understanding of where we are today, what is changing around us, what our members need, and where we have the greatest opportunity to make an impact.
Our 2027–2031 Strategic Plan is therefore being developed through a comprehensive process designed to bring together evidence, insight, experience and community voice.
The Process
1. Take Stock
Rugby Ontario engaged members of our community to develop a Strategic Planning Working Group Committee.
We are beginning by looking back.
This includes reviewing the current Strategic Plan, assessing progress against its priorities and objectives, identifying what has worked well, understanding where gaps remain and determining what lessons should carry forward into the next planning cycle.
This process ensures that the new plan builds on our progress rather than starting from scratch.
2. Conduct a Robust Environmental Scan
A comprehensive Environmental Scan is helping us understand the broader environment in which rugby operates.
This includes examining internal and external factors affecting rugby in Ontario, including:
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General Survey
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Member Club, Branches and Operational Staff Focus Groups
The Environmental Scan combines quantitative data with qualitative feedback to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that should inform Rugby Ontario’s future direction.
A province-wide Environmental Scan Survey was launched in August 2026 to gather perspectives from athletes, coaches, match officials, club leaders and administrators, volunteers, parents and other members of Ontario’s rugby community. The findings will help inform the themes and objectives of the new plan.
3. Listen to the Rugby Community
Strategy is stronger when it reflects the people it is designed to serve.
Throughout the planning process, Rugby Ontario is bringing together perspectives from across the rugby ecosystem. This includes members, clubs, branches, athletes, coaches, match officials, volunteers, administrators, leaders and other stakeholders.
Feedback from surveys, focus groups, consultation sessions and other engagement opportunities will be considered alongside the Environmental Scan.
Strategic Development
The information gathered through the Environmental Scan and stakeholder engagement will be brought together to identify the key strategic themes that should shape the next five years.
The next Strategic Plan will aim to provide greater clarity around not only what Rugby Ontario wants to achieve, but how success will be measured and how the organization will work with its partners to deliver it.
Strategic Planning Working Group
A dedicated Strategic Planning Working Group will support the development of the 2027–2031 plan.
The Working Group will help bring together the evidence, stakeholder perspectives and strategic thinking required to move from consultation to a clear and actionable plan.
This collaborative model builds on Rugby Ontario’s established approach to strategic planning, which has previously included a strategic planning working group, stakeholder consultation, Board workshops and broader membership engagement before final approval.
From Insight to Action
The end goal is more than a document.
The 2027–2031 Strategic Plan will become a roadmap for action.
It will help Rugby Ontario and its partners make informed decisions about where to focus resources, where to invest, what initiatives to prioritize and how success will be measured.
And it will help connect the work happening at every level of the game – from TRY, to PLAY, to STAY.
Our Commitment
We believe the strongest strategy is one that is informed by evidence, shaped by the people it serves and translated into meaningful action.
The 2027–2031 Strategic Plan will build on the foundation established through our current plan while responding to the realities and opportunities of the future.
This is an opportunity to ask bigger questions, listen more deeply and create a shared vision for what rugby in Ontario can become.
The future of rugby in Ontario belongs to all of us.
We are listening.
We are learning.
We are planning.
And together, we are building what comes next.
We are learning.
We are planning.
And together, we are building what comes next.