Managing the resource capabilities of provincial Rugby unions in Canada: an understanding of competitive advantage within a sport development system

ABSTRACT

Rational/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how the management of resource capabilities of Rugby Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) in Canada can affect athlete transition from the provincial to that national level.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed methods approach using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were administered to Canadian Rugby PSO member unions and Rugby Canada.

Findings: The findings revealed that for management of Rugby PSOs athlete transition is contingent upon how the resource capabilities are being managed.

Practical Implications: The practical contributions from this study are that PSOs need to manage their resource capabilities and implement a strategic plan that aligns the goals of their organization with the goals of the NSO as a means of gaining a competitive advantage.

Research Contribution: The research contributions of this study are that it fills a gap at the meso-level by determining the resources, programs and strategies of a regional-based sport organization.

KEYWORDS:

• SPLISS
• RBV
• competitive advantage
• resources
• high-performance sport systems