GENERAL MANAGER, RUGBY OPERATIONS & PERFORMANCE
Mike Chu
The General Manager, Rugby Operations and Performance, is the person responsible for the direction and management of Rugby Canada’s international and domestic development and elite Rugby Programs. The primary challenge of this position is to improve Canada’s international success and status. This is a senior management role encompassing all operational facets of Rugby Canada’s Development and High Performance programs. This would include national senior squads, national age grade, national academy programs and the coordination of High Performance Unit programs according to the National High Performance plan. The successful candidate will plan, manage, implement and promote best practice resulting in a positive image within and beyond the Canadian Rugby community.
The General Manager is responsible for ensuring that Rugby Canada continues to plan and develop according to the strategic planning guidelines and funding parameters as agreed by the Rugby Canada Board. The successful candidate will provide leadership to all Rugby programs and support the on-going endeavours of Rugby Canada staff members to improve the skills and knowledge they require to perform their roles effectively.
Mike Chu is employed as the General Manager, Rugby Operations & Performance for Rugby Canada and was hired in 2011. Mike worked for the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) for 9 years in the High Performance team. Before being appointed to his current position he was the NZRU Coach and Player Development Manager requiring him to be involved with the development of academies, coach education and development, talent identification and the monitoring of player pathways. He has been involved in talent identification and talent development in a number of sports as well as being a national leader in mental skills training and development. He has served in multi-sport roles associated with the New Zealand Academy of Sport, the Advisory Board of New Zealand’s Coach Development Council and on the Executive of the New Zealand Sport Psychology Association. He was also a Panel member identifying emerging talent across sport in New Zealand for the prestigious Halberg Awards. Prior to working for NZRU, Mike spent 9 years teaching sport management, sport coaching and sport psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North.
Mike has an undergraduate degree in Business Studies, post-graduate qualifications in Sport Management and Coaching as well as Sport Psychology, and a Masters in Business. He has had professional experience at working in, and acting as a leader of, sport programs for both men and women. His recent work has been with elite level sport but his previous involvement was with sports development programs. Mike is recognized for his involvement with individual athletes, teams and the development of coaches.
Mike played sport internationally for New Zealand in indoor hockey and was also a representative hockey and cricket player. He comes with an understanding of life in Canada after having spent a year at the University of Victoria while teaching and undertaking post-graduate work.