Research
At Rugby Ontario, we value informed decision-making and strive to support, promote, participate in, and conduct research and related opportunities that impact our sport and community. Here you can find more information on ongoing studies looking for participants, published research relevant to our members, and events and other opportunities to engage with and learn from researchers and their work.
Participate
Why do Girls and Women Stay in or Leave Sports?
This study explores why some girls and women stay in team sports, such as rugby, and why others stop playing. Participants will complete a short online survey about their sport experiences, and participant insights will help shape more inclusive, empowering, and sustainable sport pathways for young women across Canada.
Open to:
- Individuals who identify as a girl, a woman, or a non-binary individual
- Ages 14 to 25
- Athletes who have played on a team sport, past or present
All participants interested will be asked to sign an informed consent form before beginning the 20-minute online survey. Survey questions will ask about you, your experiences in sport, and why you have stayed in or left sport. You can skip any questions or stop the survey at any time. You do not have to give any personal information; however, you can provide your initials, birthdate, or email if you want to participate in or be contacted about follow-ups to this research, similar research, or to participate in the gift card draw.
If you are interested in participating in the study, scan the QR code or click the survey link before June 30th, 2026. For any questions or concerns, please contact Jess Malcolm via email at kn24vj@brocku.ca. And if you know someone who may be interested in participating, please feel free to circulate the poster and/or share the link.
To Risk, or Not to Risk? Exploring the Notion of Safety in Canadian Sport from Policy to Person
This study is is exploring the various experiences and perceptions of safety and/or risk in grassroots level rugby in Canada.
Open to:
- Athletes
- Coaches
- Parents
- Match Officials
- Volunteers
To Risk, or Not to Risk? Exploring the Notion of Safety in Canadian Sport from Policy to Person
This study is is exploring the various experiences and perceptions of safety and/or risk in grassroots level rugby in Canada.
Open to:
- Athletes
- Coaches
- Parents
- Match Officials
- Volunteers
University of Guelph’s International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership
The International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership (IISBL) at the University of Guelph is conducting a research study to explore how Canadian rugby fans and players engage with the sport through participation, fandom, and consumer behaviour, and how this engagement supports rugby growth across Canada. The study aims to provide valuable insights to help rugby organizations, sponsors, and policymakers better understand and support the rugby community.
We are inviting members of your rugby community, including players, fans, coaches, or supporters, to complete a brief online survey. The survey takes about 12–15 minutes and is entirely anonymous.
Participation is voluntary, and individuals can withdraw at any time before submitting the survey by simply closing their browser. No personal identifying information will be collected. The only criteria for participating in this survey are that individuals must be 18 years of age or older, reside in Canada or be a Canadian citizen, and have engaged with or followed rugby, through watching or participating, at least once within the past 18 months.
The Research Ethics Board has reviewed this project for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants (REB #2317).
