Draft:IRSCA- International Rugby Strength and Conditioning Association

IRSCA is the International Rugby Strength and Conditioning Association. It was created July 18th, 2023. This organization was founded by Jan Kretzschmar who is the CEO with his PHD and CSCS, Mirek Babiarz who the CSO is and is the head of performance for Poland Weightlifting Federation, and Deric Grohowski who is the COO with his PhD and CSCS. They are now joined by Karlla Gaughan is the CFO who has her PHD and is rugby referee. IRSCA was created to change the future of strength and conditioning programs for rugby athletes across the world.

Their mission is to inspire and connect people around the world through the power of rugby by promoting cutting edge rugby-specific training and educating current and future athletes, coaches, medical staff, performance staff, officials, and referees. In addition, their goal is to improve physical preparation and harness the power of the sport to inspire rugby enthusiasts by protecting, maintaining and developing integrity and confidence in all aspects of the sport at all levels. IRSCA is committed to creating opportunities to improve training for high performance rugby worldwide. IRSCA also aims to provide practical, efficient and accessible training strategies as well as high quality education for all those involved in the sport. They achieve this through diverse and highly knowledgeable results-oriented leadership team, with honesty and transparency at the heart of everything they do.

They are committed to upholding the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all our standards, practices, and interactions. The coaches and athletes are empowered to take proactive steps to enhance performance and reach new heights. They are committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional strength and conditioning approaches, seeking new ways to optimize training techniques and methodologies.

Rugby people have a passionate enthusiasm for the game. Rugby generates excitement, emotional attachment and a sense of belonging to the global rugby family. As such, passion and enthusiasm for rugby shall guide all efforts of IRSCA. Rugby provides a unifying spirit that leads to life-long friendships, camaraderie, teamwork and loyalty which transcends cultural, geographic, political and religious differences. This level of solidarity is to be a guiding principle among all IRSCA constituents. Discipline is an integral part of the game both on and off the field and is reflected through adherence to the laws, the regulations and rugby’s core values. All IRSCA members and leaders shall therefore strive to uphold the highest regard for rugby, local, and international laws and codes. Respect for team-mates, opponents, match officials, and those involved in the game is paramount. IRSCA and its members respects others’ opinions, positions, and perspectives, fostering a culture of open dialogue and understanding within the rugby community. Morality is upheld through the ethical choices and actions demonstrated by every individual within the rugby community, fostering an environment of fairness, integrity, and compassion both within the sport and in interactions beyond the field. IRSCA shall embody such morality within its institutional operations, as well as member interactions.

IRSCA is inspiring and connecting people around the world through rugby. IRSCA will be holding a virtual conference January 18th, 2025, where they will present their unique platform and bring together industry experts, leaders, and enthusiasts from across the world to change and envision the future of strength and conditioning in Rugby.