Rugby Canada hits the restart button with internal hire for interim CEO

Rugby Canada has named Jamie Levchuk as its new interim chief executive officer.

He takes over from outgoing CEO Allen Vansen, after working since 2020 as the organization鈥檚 managing director of business operations. Levchuk has also worked with HSBC Canada Sevens and previously held positions with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canucks and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a time in our union where we鈥檙e going to be going through some changes, and it鈥檚 an exciting time to hit the restart button on a few things,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously there鈥檚 going to be some challenges up ahead as well.鈥�

Both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 sides of the program have struggled lately.

The men鈥檚 15s failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup for the first time in the tournament鈥檚 history, a result that will see Rugby Canada miss out on around $1 million in funding from World Rugby, the sport鈥檚 governing body.

Canada鈥檚 women finished seventh in sevens competition at the Tokyo Olympics, prompting a review of Rugby Canada鈥檚 high-performance program. Results from that review are expected in the next few weeks, and Levchuk said he looks forward to working with the board to implement recommended changes.

Recent years have seen a number of high-profile player retire from both the sevens and 15s mens sides. Ten players with the 15s earned their first caps during a summer series in Europe. The women saw program pillar Ghislaine Landry retire, and the 15s play international matches for the first time since 2019 last November 鈥� their fall tour produced wins over USA and Wales an a lopsided loss to World Cup rivals England.

ALSO READ: Canadian rugby sevens captain Ghislaine Landry calls an end to stellar career

鈥淵ou鈥檙e seeing with our men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 sevens program now this next generation of players is coming through,鈥� Levchuk said. 鈥淲e need to make sure they get the opportunity to step in for those players who鈥檝e come before.鈥�

The reintroduction of programs like Pacific Pride, a development academy for up-and-coming men players, has seen a number of graduates earn professional contracts in Major League Rugby. A new women鈥檚 competition called the Pacific Four will feature Canada, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia and, COVID restrictions allowing, should happen this year ahead of the 2022 World Cup in October and November.

鈥淲e have work to do, we realize that,鈥� Levchuk said. 鈥淏ut again, there is room for optimism here with the teams and the players that are heading out there.鈥�

He said a decision about a permanent CEO will be made around mid-2022.

ALSO READ: Canadian women鈥檚 rugby sevens team opens new World Series season in Dubai