The Canada Rugby League Association (CRLA) is made up of hardworking individuals, dedicated to building the game of Rugby League in Canada. The Board is responsible for constructing policies, strategies and plans for Business, Marketing, Public Relations, Football Operations, Coaching and Development. The management of these strategies are key to identifying organizational stamina, financial stability and operational sustainability. The CRLA and would like to stress that as a whole we aim to represent Rugby League in Canada both in terms of geographic representation and the diversity of its elected board members.
BOARD MEMBERS
The current members of the board are as follows:
President – John Cameron
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Born in Toronto, John was reintroduced to rugby league in 2017 by the Toronto Wolfpack. Though being taught the sport in middle school, John developed a passion for the sport by attending Wolfpack games – quickly becoming avid season ticket holders with his wife.
Wanting to help grow the sport more in Canada, John volunteered to help organize the 2019 Americas’ Nines tournament in Toronto, then was on the planning committee for the Ravens and Wolverines tour of Serbia that September. John was elected to the CRLA Board in October 2019.
John studied business administration in university, specializing in strategy and marketing, and currently works in the telecommunications industry. He and his family live in Toronto.
Vice President – Daniel Tate
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Born in Dewsbury, England, Dan was raised into a family of rugby league enthusiasts. He started playing rugby league at age 9. Dan played for numerous clubs around West Yorkshire, England in the heartlands of rugby league in the UK.
Dan and his family made Canada their permanent home in 2010 and have since become Canadian citizens. Dan continues to be involved in rugby league in Canada, as a coach for the Haldimand Wolfpack Junior side and as both a playing member and Vice President of the Ontario Greybeards Masters rugby league club. Dan is committed to helping develop and grow rugby league in Canada and was elected to the CRLA board in November 2020.
Dan supports numerous rugby league teams around the World and follows a team in most competitions, Toronto Wolfpack, the Huddersfield Giants and the South Sydney Rabbitohs are amongst his favourites.
Director at Large – Bob Jowett
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Born in Halifax, England, Bob was raised as a Bradford Northern / Bulls fan following them through good times and bad. His first experience playing Rugby League was with Bradford Police Boys, a club founded by the late, great Trevor Foster. Bob attended the University of Liverpool becoming a part of the University’s most successful ever Rugby League team that memorably defeated a touring French Students team
After graduation, Bob joined Dudley Hill where again he found success. One of the first trophies Dudley Hill won was the BARLA National Cup, with many other trophies following. Whilst with Dudley Hill, Bob represented Bradford, Yorkshire, and Great Britain before joining Huddersfield as a semi-professional aged 27.
Bob and his family relocated to Barrie, Ontario in 2004 reconnecting with Rugby League after the visit of the England Lionhearts. Initial a Development Officer with Ontario Rugby League, Bob was elected onto the CRLA Board in August 2018.
Director at Large – Sarah Duncan
Born in Winnipeg, Sarah was introduced to rugby league when she first moved to British Columbia in 2019. She quickly learned to love the new variation of rugby and started playing with team BC in 2019 and with the CanadaWest team in their inaugural game in 2020.
Since learning the sport Sarah has gained a passion for growing the sport within Canada, she has since been elected to the Rugby League BC Board as their director of communication and now joins in with the Canada Rugby League Association to help out where she can.
General Secretary, Ravens Team Manager – Katie Grudzinski
Katie started her involvement with the Canada Rugby League Association as a founding member of the Canada Ravens (#10), making her international debut against the New Zealand Kiwi Fens at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Since that time, Katie has become instrumental in helping grow the women’s game in Canada – with her role as Team Manager of the Ravens, and in her involvement with Rugby League BC.
