Rugby Canada says high performance director Stephen Aboud is leaving the organization in May, at the end of his two-year contract, in order to be closer to his family.
Aboud’s wife continued to work as a medical secretary in an Irish hospital when the Irish native joined Rugby Canada in May 2023.
“Under Steve’s leadership, we’ve restarted and aligned our age grade-programs, recruited a new head coach (Steve Meehan) to rebuild our men’s program and seen our women’s teams win Olympic silver (in sevens) and climb to No. 2 in the world rankings (in 15s),” Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys said in a statement.
“He has been a significant influence on embedding our ‘one squad’ philosophy across our national programs and we know that he will remain a friend to Rugby Canada for years to come.”
The one squad philosophy has seen players transition between the sevens and 15s teams.
Aboud joined Rugby Canada after six years with the Italy Rugby Federation, serving as head of technical direction for the development of players and coaches. Before that, he spent 26 years with the Irish Rugby Football Union in a variety of roles.
He was in charge of all aspects of Rugby Canada’s pathway.
“I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the most wonderfully talented, competent and determined people during my time with Rugby Canada,” Aboud said in the Rugby Canada statement. “I believe the quality and character of the staff and players will ensure our systems and pathways will continue to improve and see many future successes.”
Rugby Canada says work has started on finding a successor.
Aboud said he wasn’t looking for a full-time job after his time in Italy. Instead, he was working as a consultant on projects that interested him and whose timing suited him.
Rugby Canada fit that bill, at the time.
Aboud arrived in Canada in the wake of an independent review into Rugby Canada’s high-performance programs, a study that painted a damning picture of a dysfunctional organization at odds with its athletes, staff and supporters.
Aboud played rugby at Blackrock College in Dublin and got involved with the Irish Rugby Football Union while studying to be a teacher. He went on to teach mathematics and physical education and coach rugby at Belvedere College in Dublin.
Eventually, the IRFU offered him a position as a development officer, prompting him to take a leave from teaching.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
