In collaboration with Rugby Canada, Rugby Ontario is proud to announce our Women in Leadership Fund to extend the reach of the Rugby Canada program by the same name. In addition to the two Ontario-based recipients of the Rugby Canada fund, Leanne Stillman (Toronto Nomads) and Tracy Roberts (Middlesex-Huron), Rugby Ontario will provide funding to support two more women to pursue leadership development opportunities that align with their personal goals.

 

Rugby Ontario 2024 Women in Leadership Fund Recipients:

 

Kelly Zacny

Club: Georgian Bay Titans RFC

Role: President

“The Women in Leadership program is important to gather women who share similar goals and aspirations in the sport of rugby. Recently I’ve taken on a role as President of the Georgian Bay Titans Rugby Club, and I look forward to expanding my knowledge and leadership skills to guide my team. I am hoping to grow the sport of rugby in our community but also grow as a community.”

 

LeeAnn Napriorkowski

Clubs: Lanark Highlanders RFC and Canadian Jax RFC.

Roles: VP Development (Lanark Highlanders) and President (Canadian Jax)

“I would love to help women find their way in our sport. I have been blessed to work with so many strong women who have made a huge impact on my playing, coaching and administrative work. My goal is to help people from all walks of life, backgrounds, abilities and experience levels to get involved in rugby.”

 

We are excited to invest in the future of rugby in Ontario through championing women in leadership roles in alignment with our Strategic Plan. The Rugby Ontario Women in Leadership Fund will double the number of women in Ontario impacted by the Women in Leadership Fund. There were many excellent candidates in Ontario for the Rugby Canada Program, so we are looking forward to providing a platform for them to connect and learn from each other as they continue on their personal development journeys.

We have recently been participating in the Canadian Women and Sport’s Gender Equity Playbook Program to conduct a systematic review and assessment of our policies, programs, and practices through a gender equity lens. The Rugby Ontario Women in Leadership Program is a first step toward more intentional and direct actions to improve gender equity in our sport.