The assigned person will provide support to all of Rugby Canada’s National team coaches but will perform two specific roles as their primary function:
1. Act as the Assistant Coach of the National Women’s Program supporting the assigned Head Coach.
2. Act as the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSC Ontario) Coordinator, Coach and Head Talent Identifier for all national High Performance programs operating under the auspices of Rugby Canada (Fifteens, Sevens, Men, Women, Senior and Age grade).
The appointed person will work under the direct supervision of the Coach Development Manager but with a great deal of direction and support from the national coaching staff. The role will be viewed as being an integral and significant element of the high performance player pathway process as outlined in Rugby Canada’s Long Term Rugby Development framework. Although the person will operate in a regional setting they will be a Rugby Canada employee and will be required to adhere to Rugby Canada agendas as established by the Coach Development Manager and the national team coaches.
The position will involve a commitment to aspects of high performance player development and talent identification. The role will focus upon supporting the national team coaches and Rugby Canada’s High Performance programs. It involves supporting the coaches in their national talent identification processes as well as supporting regionally based talent identified players (male and female) to further develop their skills, knowledge and techniques.
Sandro Fiorino joined Rugby Canada in July 2011 as the Assistant Coach, National Women’s Teams and the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario High Performance Rugby Coach. Sandro brings considerable experience as a player and coach to Rugby Canada, having previously held the Head Coach role for the Ontario Storm and McMaster University Women’s teams. Sandro is a NCCP Level 3 qualified coach who has recent specialization in rugby sevens. Sandro was selected as an Assistant Coach for the National Women’s Sevens tours to Las Vegas and Hong Kong in 2011, where Canada was crowned champions for the first time at each tournament.
Sandro graduated from Bishop’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. Prior to joining Rugby Canada, Sandro was a National Sales Manager for Dell computers. He has been a long time member of rugby clubs in Greater Toronto, including Markham RFC and Toronto Scottish, where he has been the Head Coach of the Men’s 1st Division team.
Sandro was raised in the GTA and currently resides in Toronto for the better part of the year but is located in Langford during centralization periods from January to the end of April. He will spend the majority of his time recruiting and evaluating athletes for the Women’s Programs.