All coaches and athletes are welcome to join us at the Regina Rugby Club on November 13th at 7pm for a presentation from Olympic Silver winning Coach Jack Hanratty on “Winning Style of Play”.
Coaches will receive NCCP PD Points for attending and are required to pre-register for the event.
visit www.saskrugby.com/achatwithjack for more details.
Learn from other Saskatchewan coaches and leaders in sport during this unique one-day event.
Take the opportunity to network with other local coaches, and benefit from presentations and discussions on topics important to today’s coach.
Coaches who are maintaining their NCCP certified or trained status will earn three NCCP PD points upon participation in this event.
Hosted at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, there’s no better setting to hone in on your professional development as a coach.
View the full details for Community Coaches Day online and register today.
The Saskatchewan Rugby Union is seeking to recruit dynamic, engaged and qualified candidates to serve on our Board of Directors that embody our values, share our passion and want to help advance and strengthen our organization, the quality of our programs and the value to our memberships. We are currently seeking nominations for Directors for our Board of Directors. We are looking for individuals who have knowledge and understanding of the Saskatchewan Rugby Community, demonstrated leadership experience with strong network in your community. Directors will serve a three year term and be expected to attend and participate in all Sask Rugby Board meetings, commit to annual fundraising efforts and promotion as well as be actively involved in a standing committee. Online Nominations are now open and can be completed via this link ONLINE NOMINATION FORM
All completed nomination forms will be forwarded to the newly established Nominations Committee. Nominations are open until August 1st.
On Tuesday, May 27th, tragedy struck Waterhen Lake First Nation.
At around 1:00 PM a fire started in the roof of Weweyekisik Education Centres industrial arts shop. Thanks to a quick evacuation, no injuries were reported but the community still felt the loss of one of the staples that brought many together. Waterhen Lake First Nations and the surrounding communities suffered a loss of place, connection, and joy as the school was an anchor to the childhoods and early development of so many people.
The cause was reportedly caused by a lack of structural modernity with little effort given to making the necessary changes. Since the Weweyekisik Education Centre is 75km outside of Meadow Lake, the Fire Fighters couldn’t get there in time to mitigate damages but nonetheless, the building’s damages would cost millions.
There is expected to be Federal help as well as community outreach to make the best of a bad situation. There are expected portable classes to be set up to continue education.
Through many relentless efforts to bring rugby to life and to keep the culture of rugby thriving in the Northern community in Meadow Lake, Rufas Crawford took pride in beginning a successful girl’s rugby program named the She-Devil’s Rugby Club and a boys program called the El-Diablos which planted the seed for rugby to grow.
Through this seed, Rufas put forward an application for the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant for the Waweyekisik School for launching a pioneering girls’ rugby program, while aiming to introduce the sport to First Nation communities in Saskatchewan, fostering inclusivity, skill development, and pathways to regional and international competitions.
This Indigenous team, called the Wolfpack was a dream turned reality as it found its debut on May 23, 2024 through a mini-tournament played at Weweyekisik Education Centre which presented the Eagle Feather Cup (shown on the right) which was a symbol of new beginnings in the Saskatchewan Rugby community through an indigenous lens.
Understanding the gravity of the situation and the efforts taken to foster a beginning pathway for Indigenous rugby in Saskatchewan, we are working hard alongside important stakeholders, supporters, and sponsors to make amends and ideally restore the program.
We wish the best for the Waterhen Lake First Nation community and a quick recovery to its previous glory that the north held to such a high degree!
It’s going to be a trial by FIRE for the return of the Prairie Fire!
The Prairie Fire holds a strong place in the hearts of many within our Province. In its conception and early years, the team competed in the prestigious Rugby Canada Super League (RCSL) from 1998 to 2008 and the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship (RCNJC) from 2009 to 2010. The program has historically held high value in the History of high-performance Rugby in Canada as near the end of the Super League, the team was competing in the Finals, if not winning.
After a hiatus, the Saskatchewan Prairie Fire is back and stronger than ever. This U25 Selects team is a rep touring team on the rise and the Coast to Coast Cup is the preliminary tour for the reconstruction. We are calling all eligible players to get informed and come practice to join the Fire Squad!
Practices occur on Sundays at 12:00 PM (noon) to compensate most players’ busy weeks and are located at the Football Field in Davidson, SK.
The dates for these practices are as follows: May 26, June 2, June 9. There is a potential for more practices following the tour, and news will be revealed within team communications.
There will also be a Pre-tournament Camp held in Regina, SK from June 15-17 to prepare the team for departure as there will be the travel day on the 18th and the debut game on the 19th.
Costs for the tournament are as follows: $1000/player with a $300 deposit due June 1st.
The Coast to Coast Cup is a major competition for young high-performance athletes across Canada. The Coast to Coast Cup allows our players to compete against top-tier talent from across the country and beyond, representing not only themselves but also our proud province of Saskatchewan.
The tour will go from departure day on June 18th to return day on June 23rd through Halifax, NS.
The games will be as follows:
Game 1: June 19 @6:30 PM Vs. Atlantic Privateers
Location: Graves-Oakley Memorial Park
Game 2: June 22 Final Vs. Calgary Mavericks or Toronto Arrows Academy
Location: Wanderer Grounds Sport Complex
All games will be streamed on the Rugby Network.
Watch for updates via the SaskRugby social medias on Instagram and Facebook for Livestreaming updates, tour updates, and much more!
Saskatchewan Rugby is excited to launch the 2024-2029 strategic plan, the map to a robust future for rugby in Saskatchewan. This forward-thinking and long-term plan is a result of collaborative sessions with the board and members, where they got to provide their ideas and feedback.
“We, the Saskatchewan Rugby Board of Directors are working to start a strong structure for the game and participants—now and in the coming years,” says Interm President Jason Brandt. “The timeline is designed to maximize the Canada Games cycle, so we will have a chance to get items up and fully running by the 2025 games, and then reassess and make any adjustments as we head into the next cycle in 2029.”
The full version of Saskatchewan Rugby’s new strategic plan can be found HERE
The new mission and vision statements reflect an active and positive mindset with a forward focus.
Vision
A quality and welcoming rugby community
Mission
We advance lifelong rugby experiences
The strategic plan solidifies the organization’s priorities and will act as a filter to make decisions. That includes the values laid out in the plan.
Respect
Show respect to ourselves, those around us, and the game.
Integrity
Act honestly and equitably in and around the game.
Passion
Passionately find excitement, attachment, and belonging to the rugby family.
Solidarity
Connect and foster an inclusive community through the game.
Discipline
Commit to safety and accountability for the game.
These values reflect the focus on making rugby in Saskatchewan accessible and equitable. Saskatchewan Rugby aims to re-energize and advance the sport in Saskatchewan.
The plan is built to address member needs, and designed to align with Sask Sport, a funder and a leader in the province. Sask Sport’s new sport development framework will be linked to funding reporting, and Saskatchewan Rugby’s outcomes and initiatives for the next five years are divided into the three pillars used in that framework: athlete development, capacity for support, and sport in community.
Athlete Development
Expected Outcomes
Major Initiatives
Capacity for Sport
Expected Outcomes
Major Initiatives
Sport in Community
Expected Outcomes
Major Initiatives
To help modernize Saskatchewan Rugby and the approach to the sport in Saskatchewan, the plan will need help with implementation at all levels, including member clubs and volunteers.
“Collaboration was key to creating a strong strategic plan, and it will be key to bringing the plan to life,” says Brandt “Everyone will need to work together: the board, players, officials, administration. We have identified the need to strengthen Saskatchewan Rugby as an organization to support the game, our members, and participants.”
As the 2024 season approaches, Saskatchewan Rugby is finalizing an operational plan to translate the high-level goals in the strategic plan into measurable targets and tactics to make the plan a reality. Members can expect to hear more as both plans move forward.
The Saskatchewan Rugby AGM is scheduled for April 21, 2024 at 2205 Victoria Ave in Regina, SK at 11am.
There will be a Junior and Senior Planning session to start and the business portion of the AGM will begin at 12:30pm. Please contact your Club President for further details.
Saskatchewan Rugby is looking to hire youth workers for a variety of summer positions in 2024 out of Saskatoon, Regina, Lloydminster and Meadow Lake.
Sport Program Coordinator (Regina, Saskatoon, Lloydminster, Meadow Lake) – Job Description 2024 Sport Program Coordinators HERE
Sport Program Administrative Coordinator (Regina) – Job Description 2024 Sport Program Administrative Coordinators HERE
Grounds Maintenance Labourer (Saskatoon) – Job Description 2024 Grounds Maintenance Labourer HERE
These positions are funded through the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) wage subsidy from Employment and Social Development Canada. CSJ provides wage subsidies to employers to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. These positions are subject to funding approval as our applications are currently under assessment, however they are typically approved as full time (30 -35 hours per week, between 9 – 12 weeks, between April 24, 2024 to August 30, 2024.
Please email your resume with a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience would make you a great fit for this position by March 31, 2024, to:
Email: jobs@saskrugby.com
We’d like to thank all applicants for your interest in Saskatchewan Rugby, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
The 2023 Premier Rugby 7s expanded 2023 season saw multiple Saskatchewan Rugby stars competing for various franchise teams across the United States.
Spencer Boldt; Notre Dame Alumna and Sask Rugby star signed with the Experts franchise for her third season. The Experts started their season off strong winning the first stop of the series in San Jose on July 16, and clinching their ticket to the Championship tournament in DC.
Carissa Norsten & Christina Norsten; this Sask rugby sister duo have been making waves both in the US and Canada over the past few years. Carissa signed with the Loonies franchise for her second season and Christina signed for her very first season. The Loonies coached by Sask Rugby coaching legends Brett Kannenberg and Robin MacDowell had a fantastic season, winning at home in Minnesota on the first stop of the series, then clinching their championship tournament spot in San Jose and finally becoming the 2023 Premier Rugby 7s Champions for the second season in a row on August 7th.
Lucas Scheck; the Sask Rugby star resigned with the Headliners franchise for his second season. The team fell short of a championship tournament spot, battling against tough competition from the get go.
We are incredibly proud of these Saskatchewan athletes and their continued success. The future is bright!
Sign up for our Kids Free Session at 2pm
YORKTON – Want to get in on the ground floor as a new sport is introduced to Yorkton?
Then if you are a youth ages five to 13 you’ll want to to be signed up for a introduction to rugby workshop planned for the morning of July 15 at Century Field. While being held in Yorkton, young players are welcome from throughout the region. You can pre-register at www.saskrugby.com
Don’t worry parents the introduction will be non-contact as participants are given a chance to handle a rugby ball, do some passing – integral to the game, and learning some basic forms.
The morning workshop in part of a ‘Rugby Day’ being held in the city by Saskatchewan Rugby as a way to start the ball rolling toward establishing teams in Yorkton explained Jordan Astrope Executive Director with the provincial organization.
So why rugby?
Andrew Shaw, Rugby Development Officer with the provincial organization said it is a sport where many of the skills for example lateral foot movement transfer to other sports from hockey to basketball, and it does provide physical activity, and of course the crossover to football is obvious too.
There is also a community aspect to rugby, offered Astrope, which revolve around core values including integrity, respect, passion and discipline.
While it is obvious that rugby might attract athletes from other sports, it is also hoped as a new venture it will bring out some youngsters yet to find their sport and willing to give rugby a try.
Astrope said looking ahead they hope there is interest from local youth, which in turn gets some parents interested as volunteers to start a non-contact rugby program, which gets players involved and learning skills which give them a firm foundation should the program one day expand to include contact teams.
“Non-contact is about safety getting started,” he said.
The day will also include four matches featuring both boys and girls U16 and U18 teams from Saskatchewan and Manitoba hooking up to demonstrate the sport.
The games will provide entertainment and also give interested players and volunteers a look at rugby live.
The Yorkton day is part of the provincial organization’s efforts to expand the sport in Saskatchewan, taking a community, by community approach.
At present there are established rugby programs of varying degrees in about 10 communities, offered Shaw.
Saskatchewan Rugby is the governing body for the sport of Rugby in Saskatchewan. Our mission is to promote, develop and administer, the playing of Rugby throughout Saskatchewan.