TORONTO — Rugby Canada is looking for a new leader on the eve of the sport’s biggest showcase.
The governing body announced Tuesday that CEO Graham Brown is leaving Rugby Canada after 13 years. The 45-year-old Brown plans to step down after the conclusion of Canada’s campaign at the Rugby World Cup, which starts next month in Britain.
The announcement came the same day as Canada’s "Rugby World Cup send-off dinner," a major fundraising event in Toronto. Brown downplayed the timing of the news, saying the men’s national team was on course with all tournament plans already in place.
"It’s a good time," Brown told The Canadian Press.
For both parties, he believes.
"Any business leader will tell you it’s probably a good time. Thirteen years with the same person. New vision, new energy and new focus is a good thing," he said.
Brown, who has three young children, says he travels more than 100 days a year in his rugby job. Rugby Canada has offices in suburban Toronto and Langford, B.C., with Brown based in Ontario.
Rugby Canada paid tribute to Brown for his contributions.
"Graham has been an exemplary leader at Rugby Canada," Pat Aldous, chairman of the board of directors, said in a statement. "We want to thank him for his many years of service and his commitment to making Rugby Canada an elite national sports organization."
Rugby Canada’s plan to fill the position will be announced at a later date. Brown did not disclose his plans.
Brown leaves Canadian rugby in a better place than when he found it in 2002 when the organization was still searching for stability. He was one of just three full-time employees at Rugby Canada at the time. Today there are 48.
Rugby Canada has built a Centre of Excellence in Langford, a facility that will grow with the recent news of the planned addition of a $8-million high-performance centre.
The Canadian women’s sevens team ranks second in the world and has qualified for the 2015 Olympics. The women’s 15s team reached the final of the last World Cup.
The men’s sevens team ranked ninth and sixth on the HSBC World Series the last two seasons.
Canada will host a stop on the men’s sevens circuit in 2016, following a women’s event earlier this year.
The men’s 15-man squad, currently No. 18 in the world, finds itself in choppier waters as it prepares to cross the Atlantic.
"The men’s 15 (team) really needs some TLC at the moment," Brown acknowledged. "But rugby’s in an awesome spot. Financially they (Rugby Canada) are fine."
While it has made strides under New Zealand coach Kieran Crowley, Canada has been outdistanced by countries that have improved more. The Canadian men have lost seven straight and have not won since a 17-13 decision over Namibia last November.
Canada’s record in test matches in 2014 and 2015 is 1-10-0.
Crowley, a former All Black, has lamented the lack of a domestic pro league and the difficulties his players face in joining overseas teams. And unlike most other countries, Canada’s lack of depth means some players have to pull double duty in sevens and 15s play.
The focus on funding on the sevens program due to the Olympics also has made life more difficult for the 15s squad.
Crowley’s contract expires next June.
Brown expects pro rugby in North America within 10 years, possibly five. He also believes World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, has to offer Tier 2 nations like Canada a better quality of opposition if it is to improve.
"I can only tell you we have one game next year and it’s (No. 15) Italy," said Brown.
In contrast, Tier 1 countries like New Zealand and South Africa have full schedules against elite opposition already locked in.
Brown was executive director of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association when he joined Rugby Canada as COO in May 2012. A year later, he took over as CEO when Gareth Rees stepped down.
Brown and Rees had taken over a governing body that was in debt and still recovering from an internal struggle that resulted in a players’ revolt in 2001 when the previous board fired men’s coach David Clark.
A new board subsequently re-hired Clark and later installed Rees and Brown at the organization’s helm.
Brown says he leaves with the support of Rugby Canada’s current board. "Best board in Canada."
Rees, a former Canadian captain and Hall of Famer, remains with the organization as manager of the national men’s program.