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Women in Rugby News

RAN OFFLOAD: CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL TURNED HEAD COACH JESS NEILSON

by Bryan Kelly | Apr 20, 2021

At the age of just 25, Jessica Neilson has an impressive list of accomplishments – on and off the rugby pitch. The Victoria, BC native picked up a rugby ball at eight years old and has never looked back. She’s represented Castaway Wanderers, Vancouver Island, British...

Rugby sevens match officials unveiled for Tokyo Olympics with 100 days to go

by ranMedia | Apr 16, 2021

Squad of 22 match officials from 12 countries selected for the Olympic Games in Tokyo Inclusion of five international players who have swapped the playing shirt for the whistle, including New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup winner Selica Winiata Eight female referees...

Q&A with Cristina Flores Justic – RAN EXCO/RAN Regional Representative on World Rugby Council

by Bryan Kelly | Apr 12, 2021

Cristina’s passion for rugby started from her first game, playing at University, in New Brunswick, Canada in 1979. When she moved to Southern Ontario in 1983, there were no women playing rugby, so she joined the St. Catharines Rugby Club Board and became the Fixtures...

RAN Women in Leadership Directive (WiLD)

In March 2018 Rugby Americas North awarded three World Rugby Leadership Development scholarships to women in the RAN region. The scholarships are a part of World Rugby’s Leadership Development program which was launched in 2018 to develop and support the next generation of female leaders. World Rugby provided funds for two recipients in 2018, with Rugby Americas North taking the added step to fund one additional scholarship. Araba ‘Roo’ Chintoh (CAN), Jillion Potter (USA) and Maria Thomas (TTO) received funding for their proposals in the inaugural year.

2018-19 RAN World Rugby Leadership Development Scholarship Recipients

2018-19 RAN WiLD Leadership Group

This past August the recipients were joined by Martha Daines (USA), Tamara Dixon (JAM), Liz Ferguson (CAN), Cristina Flores (MEX), and Meg Howat (CAN) ahead of the Rugby Americas North EGM. During a productive 1-day workshop the group saw a need for additional structure and recognized the desire to create a broader impact. The Women in Leadership Directive (WiLD) was born and the following scops was set forth:

MISSION:

To be an inclusive resource to support and advocate for girls and women in rugby
To work to raise the standard of resources, education, governance, and competitions for girls and women in rugby
To achieve the vision of women in RAN making an impact in all aspects of the global game of rugby

VISION:

Women in RAN making an impact in all aspects of the global game.

GOALS:

Women fill key leadership roles in GOVERNANCE, ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL and COMMERCIAL positions in RAN
Women are TECHNICAL EXPERTS of the women’s game.
A sustainable community for MENTORSHIP, SUPPORT, NETWORKING and ADVOCACY in the game for women and girls.

YEAR 1 TARGETS:

SHARE initiatives, GATHER information, TARGET potential leaders at RAN 7s, Canadian and USA University Championships.
Caribbean & Mexico PARTNERSHIP EXCHANGE with USA & Canadian Universities.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT for developing leaders rugby-focused LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Develop VIDEO ANALYSIS SKILLS through a WORKSHOP with an elite analyst.

YEAR 1 LONGITUDINAL TARGETS:

Build and sustain Communities of Conversation (Webinar, FaceBook/WhatsApp, or Google Communities group).
Ensure that members have suitable harassment policies and procedures.
Address unconscious bias and build inclusive board cultures with RAN members through education and guidance.
Invite leading women in specific areas to be involved in Communities of Conversation and as mentors.

SHORT TERM GOALS

Establish partnership network between USA and Canada University teams and targeted Caribbean countries, with funding for a couple of exchanges.
Meet with Canadian University Championship teams to share and gather information about mentoring opportunities and pathways in the game.
Develop video analysis skills through a workshop with an elite analyst.
Build and sustain Communities of Conversation (Webinar, FaceBook/WhatsApp, or Google Communities group).
Invite leading women in specific areas to be involved in the Communities of Conversation and as mentors.
Arrange leadership interviews with governance or executive level person in suitable organizations. Share reflections of the experience.
Ensure that members have suitable harassment policies and procedures.
Address unconscious bias and build inclusive board cultures with RAN members through education and guidance.

WiLD is comprised of women representing all of the regions of RAN and dedicated to organic and reciprocal examples of positive and accurate representation.