Rugby Canada

Sophie De Goede, captain of Canada's women's rugby team, along with teammate Pamphinette Buisa, coach Jocelyn Barrieau, and Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys, pitched for a $250,000 one-year premium sponsorship of Rugby Canada. They said sponsorship funds go directly to funding training and travel for the team, currently ranked number two in the world and coming off a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, with rugby having grown 11% nationally in 2024 and a new six-year national broadcast deal in place; players are paid as little as $1,300 to $2,000 a month.

Arlene Dickinson said the sponsorship did not fit the brands she works with and went out. Manjit Minhas said a straight sponsorship without ownership or direction was too tough and went out. Brian Scudamore said it was a tough sponsorship despite overlap with his target market and went out. Wes Hall said it did not work for his brand at this stage and went out. Michele Romanow said the team needed a long-term partner rather than a one-year deal and went out, resulting in no investment.

We haven’t confirmed whether Rugby Canada is still operating.