Rugby Canada unveils new strategic plan for 2024 to 2027 with some bold ambitions

Rugby Canada has unveiled its strategic plan for 2024 to 2027, a wish list with some bold ambitions.

Among them is having Canada "recognized and respected worldwide as a top-12 rugby nation on and off the field."

The Canadian men, who failed to qualify for this year's Rugby World Cup, rose two spots to No. 21 in the world rankings last month. Their best-ever ranking was No. 11, for one week in September 2011.

"We're not going to reach the top 12 in the next three years. We know that," Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys said in an interview. "But it's a statement of ambition, a statement of intent."

Rugby Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the organization’s new strategic plan for 2024 until 2027 and beyond. <br><br>“The plan is bold; it is clear; it contains ambitious but achievable goals; and tough choices have been made. Now the real work begins.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RugbyCA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RugbyCA</a>

World Rugby has announced plans for a new biennial Nations Championship starting in 2026, featuring the top 12 sides in the world with a second division showcasing the next 12 teams.

The top 12 division "is where we want to be," said Bombrys, adding the immediate priority is to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.

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The strategic plan also calls for the Canadian women, currently ranked fourth, to remain in the top four and be "in contention to win Rugby World Cup 2025."

The blueprint is titled One Team, which carries several meanings.

It marks Rugby Canada's continuing commitment to allow players to move between the sevens and 15s programs, a departure from past years when the governing body moved to separate the two