CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM HOLDS WESTERN CAMP IN VICTORIA

July 7, 2021 (Langford, BC) - Canada’s Women’s Rugby team is assembling this week for the first time since their Fall Tour in 2019. Thirty-six Western-based athletes have been invited to gather in Victoria, BC from July 8-11th for training sessions on Thursday and Sunday at Starlight Stadium along with all-day sessions Friday and Saturday at Shawnigan Lake School. 

Rugby Canada will also host an Eastern camp in Montreal from July 15-18th. Further information and a player list will be released at a later date.

The western camp is being led by coaches Jack Hanratty and Kevin Rouet.  Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team head coach Sandro Fiorino and assistant coach Maria Gallo will also observing. Kelly Russell, Brittany Waters & Barbara Mervin will run select sessions as guest coaches, while additional camp staff include medical personnel Chris Perrey and Ali Rodway and camp manager, Kristy Martin Hale. All training sessions will be closed to the public as Rugby Canada continues to operate programming adhering to Covid-19 protocol for High Performance Sport.

The key focus of the 4-day camp will be to reconnect the players after an extended time physically apart and launch the training and performance build-up to next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Attack coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Jack Hanratty said, “All the athletes have worked incredibly hard in their own environments to stay connected and engaged over the last challenging 18 months. This is a chance for a positive and reenergizing few days, with a mixture of senior athletes and some next generation in camp. We look forward to this being step one of an exciting 14 months ahead of the Rugby World Cup.”

Head coach Sandro Fiorino added, “It’s really exciting for the players and the coaching staff to get back on the pitch together again and we feel fortunate for the opportunity.  This camp is the first step in our preparations Rugby World Cup next year.”

Rugby World Cup 2021 will be played in October and November, 2022 in New Zealand, as the tournament was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada have been drawn into Pool B alongside the USA and qualifiers to be determined from Europe and Asia.

National Senior Women’s 15s West Camp:

• Abby Duguid - Edmonton, AB - Nor'Westers Athletic Association / University of Lethbridge
• Ada Jane Okonkwo - Winnipeg, MB - Castaway Wanderers RFC / Winnipeg Wanderers RC / Uvic
• Ashlynn Smith - Abbotsford BC - Abbotsford RFC / University of Calgary
• Asia Hogan-Rochester - Scarborough, ON - Toronto Nomads RFC
• Brooke Bazian - Kamloops, BC - Castaway Wanderers RFC / University of Victoria
• Chanelle Edwards-Challenger  - Calgary, AB - Castaway Wanderers / University of Victoria
• Courtney Holtkamp - Rimbey, AB - Red Deer Titans Rugby
• Ella O'Regan - Victoria, BC - Castaway Wanderers RFC / University of Victoria
• Emily Belchos - de Goede - Innisfil, ON - Castaway Wanderers RFC
• Emily Samek - Hamilton, ON - Guelph Redcoats RFC / University of Guelph
• Fancy Bermudez - Edmonton, AB - Nor'Westers Athletic Association
• Gabi Senft - Regina, SK - Castaway Wanders RFC
• Gillian Boag - Calgary, AB - Capilano RFC
• Janna Slevinsky - St. Albert, AB - Calgary Saracens RFC
• Julia Folk - Regina, SK - Castaway Wanderers RFC
• Kasselle Menin - Vulcan, AB - Calgary Hornets RFC / University of Calgary
• Keegan Brantner - Taber, AB - Lethbridge Rugby Club / University of Lethbridge
• Kiri Ngawati - Victoria, BC - Westshore RFC
• Larah Wright - Calgary, AB - Calgary Hornets RFC / University of Victoria
• Laura Russell - Bolton, ON - Toronto Nomads RFC 
• Maelle Reed - Victoria, BC - Castaway Wanderers RFC / University of Victoria
• Madi Gold - Courtenay, BC - University of BC
• Madison Jumeau - Victoria, BC - University of Victoria
• Maggie Banks - Coquitlam, BC - Burnaby Lake Rugby Club / Queen’s University
• Maggie Mackinnon - Sooke, BC - University of Victoria
• Nakisa Levale - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Griffins
• Rachel Smith - White Rock, BC - UBC Thunderbirds
• Regan Casey - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Irish / University of Victoria
• Renee Gonzalez - Scarborough, ON - Westshore RFC / University of Victoria
• Rori Wood - Sooke, BC - Vancouver Thunderbirds / University of BC
• Savannah Bauder - N. Vancouver, BC - University of BC
• Sierra Gillis - Victoria BC - Rugby Canada Maple Leaf Academy
• Sophie de Goede - Victoria, BC - Castaway Wanderers RFC / Queen’s University
• Temitope Ogunjimi - Calgary, AB - Calgary Hornets RFC
• Tyson Beukeboom - Uxbridge, ON - Cowichan RFC
•  Zoe Williams - Victoria BC - Westshore RFC / University of Victoria

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About Rugby Canada:

Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby XV’s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.

For more information or if interested in supporting our teams through sponsorship, please contact: media@rugby.ca.