Summer Maple Leaf Academy programming kicks off with NextGen tournament

Rugby Canada’s Maple Leaf Academy kicked off its 2023 summer programming over the May long weekend with a training camp and NextGen tournament at Starlight Stadium in Langford.

Over May 17 to 21, 24 players from across Canada who were selected from a long list of 90 players identified through partnerships with provinces, clubs, and university programs, trained and competed with a USA Rugby development squad. To help boost the number of matches in the NextGen tournament, Rugby Canada also invited a team led by local coach Robin MacDowell.

Joining Maple Leaf Academy Head Coach Iain Monaghan were coaches Chelsea Ross (University of Alberta) and Brittany Waters (University of Victoria).

“These opportunities to come together are so important. We really enjoyed getting to know the players and seeing and supporting them within a high performance training and competition environment,” said Monaghan. “This past weekend was an opportunity to work on technical, tactical, physical, and mental skills for developing excellence. We got valuable indicators of what type of support we can provide these players to help them reach their potential in the coming months and years. I believe that camps and tournaments like this can inspire players to greater heights and raise the level of rugby amongst the communities and teams they represent.”

From June to August, players who participated in this camp and tournament, as well as a further selected 16 (40 total), will participate in the Maple Leaf Academy summer programming in Langford.

NextGen Tournament Scores

Friday May 19
Maple Leaf Academy Blue 24 – USA Development 17
Maple Leaf Academy Black 22 – Invitational VII 5
Maple Leaf Academy Blue 33 – Invitational VII 5
Maple Leaf Academy Black 21 – USA Development 15
USA Development 29 – Invitational VII 7
Maple Leaf Academy Black 26 – Maple Leaf Academy Blue 24

Saturday May 20
Maple Leaf Academy Blue 31 – USA Development 0
Maple Leaf Academy Black 24 – Invitational VII 5
Maple Leaf Academy Blue 17 – Invitational VII 0
Maple Leaf Academy Black 12 – USA Development 0
USA Development 24 – Invitational VII l 0
Maple Leaf Academy Black 26 – Maple Leaf Academy Blue 24

Maple Leaf Academy – Team Blue

Alexina Tardif-Samson (Quebec)
Alice Théberge (Quebec)
Amy Wynne (Ontario)
Bronwyn Dormaar (Alberta)
Cassie Jorgenson (Alberta)
Kyla Warren (Ontario)
Lucie Romeo (British Columbia)
Monique Coffey (Manitoba)
Sara Grant (New Brunswick)
Siobhan Sheerin (Ontario)
Victoria Stanley (Ontario)

Maple Leaf Academy – Team Black

Alex Ondo (Quebec)
Angie Olukunmi (Alberta)
Eden Kilgour (Ontario)
Emily Clark (Ontario)
Emmi Meriläinen (Ontario)
Julia Omokhuale (Alberta)
Kendra Cousineau (Ontario)
Maelle Reed (British Columbia) **Played for Invitational VII
Reese Morgan (Ontario)
Taejah Thompson (Alberta)
Tia Jordo (British Columbia)
Vanessa Chiappetta (Quebec)

Did not participate due to unavailability, provincial 15s selection, or injury

Carissa Norsten (Saskatchewan)
Carmen Izyk (Alberta)
Corinne Fréchette (Quebec)
Ella O'Regan (British Columbia)
Emma Lajaneuse (Quebec)
Hunter Czeppel (British Columbia)
Larah Wright (Alberta)
Lizzie Gibson (Ontario)
Maddy Kushner (Ontario)
Maya Addai (Ontario)
Rachel Smith (British Columbia)
Savannah Bauder (British Columbia)
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (British Columbia)