Canada players celebrate victory over the Black Ferns. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Black Ferns v France - World Cup bronze medal match
Kick-off: 11:30pm Saturday 27 September
Twickenham Stadium, London
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
One of the first questions asked after Canada's big semi-final win over the Black Ferns was just how a team of more or less amateur players beat a fully professional outfit. The answer lies in a unique approach to getting the money they needed, in a grandly named project called The Mission: Win Rugby World Cup.
Even though they are underdogs against the heavily favoured English Red Roses at a sold out Twickenham in this Sunday morning's final, It's looking very much like mission: possible for the now cult hero Canadians.
"The Mission campaign was about supporting this outstanding team with the best possible preparation going into the tournament. Not just to go to the Rugby World Cup, but to win." said Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys.
"We are so proud to see the nation backing our team in such extraordinary fashion. Our women have demonstrated the amazing possibilities that can be achieved when we invest in outstanding Canadians."
Star Canadian player Sophie de Goede addresses her team. Photo: www.photosport.nz
The Mission was launched to close a significant funding gap in sending what coach Kevin Rouet promised would be the best-ever prepared Canadian team to a Rugby World Cup. Bombrys met with Rouet at the outset of the season and mapped an ideal training and preparation schedule, which would cost an estimated NZD $4.5 million.
This was quite the ask for Rugby Canada, which operates as a non-profit organisation running what is very much a minority sport in the ice hockey and Winter Olympic sport dominated country. It operates on a fraction of the budgets and resources compared to the likes of the RFU or NZ Rugby, so could only set a high-performance team budget of $3.2 million. That left a $1.3 million gap to directly support priorities of the team - pre-tournament training camps, warm-up matches, travel, nutrition and daily operations of having the group together longer.
It is hoped that it will be closed by The Mission, which is at 95 percent of its financial goal.
Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada. Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
"This campaign has shown the true spirit of Canadian rugby," said Rouet. "Our players have worked relentlessly to reach this stage, but having the nation behind us has given us an extra edge, that our players will take with them onto the pitch in the final. Now we have the chance to make history together, as a team and as a country."
Thousands of dollars have been contributed from community rugby clubs, former players, new supporters as well as major gifts from some high-net-worth individuals. And it's worked: Canada has delivered commanding performances and comprehensively defeated the defending champions to book their place in the final. The success has sparked record levels of engagement and unprecedented attention to Canadian rugby, with support notably coming in from five-time Grammy Award-winning icon Shania Twain and New Zealand-born Oscar winner Russell Crowe.
Shania Twain live at Spark Arena Photo: Daniel Lee
It is worth noting that while half of the current squad plays in professional competitions overseas, they are not full-time under the oversight of their national side, while the other half are in the very much amateur local club and university competitions in Canada. Players have balanced careers, studies, and overseas commitments, earning modest fees while all travel, accommodation, meals, and more are covered while on tour.
"It means everything to know the country is behind us," said captain Alex Tessier.
"It's not just about us winning a trophy, it's about showing our passion and promoting what investing in Canadian rugby can achieve to inspire the next generation."
