Karl Fix, a Regina rugby supporter, has withdrawn his financial contribution to the Canadian under-20 team out of concern over Rugby Canada's handling of its current labour dispute with the Canadian sevens players.
Fix, a former Rugby Canada board member and longtime rugby player, coach and backer, says he has "significant concerns with Rugby Canada's haphazard execution" of its decision to centralize sevens and 15s players in one training squad.
The sevens players, at odds with Rugby Canada over the status of the sevens game and unhappy at the financial terms offered, have refused to sign new contracts and are boycotting training in Langford, B.C.
Fix says Rugby Canada's recent actions have prompted him to decided to withdraw from the Canada U20 Men's National Rugby Team Support Group. Fix, along with Bill Webb, David Robertson, former national team coach Pat Parfrey, Andrew Purdey and Mike Holmes, helped fund several training camps for the under-20 side around the recent World Rugby Under 20 Trophy tournament.
The goal was to find people to pay for the costs of the camp so the players didn't have to and to ensure the team had extended training time.
In an open letter on his Facebook page, Fix says "recent developments ... are undermining the future potential of not only the sevens program, which has been one of our game's bright lights in recent years, but all of rugby in Canada."
Fix has also asked Rugby Canada to review management of the senior men's program and consider a "full-scale reorganization of the staffing structure."
Fix says his objection is more with how Rugby Canada decided to carry out its new plan rather than the blueprint itself. He questions whether there was enough consultation with the sevens players and coach, calling it "old-school management."
Fix says he is tired of "short-term Band-Aid" decisions.
"Now they've got to the stage were somebody's got to stop the train or there's going to be a train wreck" he said in an interview.
The sevens players have applied to the B.C. Labour Relations Board to be certified by the United Steelworkers. Rugby Canada says while it is not opposed to the players forming some kind of association, it does not believe a labour or trade union is applicable in this case.
CEO Allen Vansen said the sevens players are not employees but rather amateur athletes who are provided financial support through Sport Canada with Rugby Canada contributing some reimbursable living expenses and honorariums.
That drew a speedy response from sevens co-captain Nate Hirayama.
"When 7s and its players are still being referred to as 'amateur,' it gives a little insight into how out of touch and far behind we already are," Hirayama tweeted.
The Canadian men finished ninth on the world sevens circuit last season. Canada's 15s team, currently ranked 23rd in the world, is facing a last-chance World Cup qualifying repechage tournament in November.
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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
