Rugby Canada announces 2024 U18 Women’s West and East camps

Tuesday June 4, 2024 (Langford, BC) - The 2024 programming for Rugby Canada’s U18 women’s program has been announced, with week-long West and East development camps to take place in August.

Forty plus players will be invited to each camp, with the U18 Women’s West camp taking place at Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia from August 12 to 18 and the U18 Women’s East camp taking place at Queen’s University in Ontario from August 11 to 17.

U18 Men’s West and East camps will take place over August 11 to 17 as well, with further details, including location and coaches, to be announced shortly.

“Our U18 programming focuses on the development stage of LTAD, with the aim of strengthening the next year’s U19 Canadian Rugby Championships, with the support of the Provincial Unions,” said Stephen Aboud, Rugby Canada High Performance Director. “These camps will expose a large base of players to a rugby environment that demonstrates what it looks, sounds and feels like to be an elite rugby player. While the aim of these camps is to be inclusive and to cater to a wide number of players, they should also act as an ignition point of development for players with a high potential of pursuing the Rugby Canada high performance pathway.”

Players will be selected based on identification through regional and provincial pathways, with the Rugby Canada U18 Head Coaches working alongside regional and provincial coaches. Identification opportunities include, but are not limited to, Provincial Regional Championships, interbranch competitions, and regional identification camps.

“We are excited to build upon last year’s relaunch of the U18 women’s program and to once again provide players with a great experience,” said Chelsea Ross, U18 Women West Head Coach. “I’m looking forward to seeing players learn and grow throughout the week, as they build their technical and tactical rugby knowledge, as well as develop high performance habits such as leadership, self-analysis and personal responsibility.”

“Our goal is to provide an environment with an intentional performance development focus that is equal parts supportive as it is challenging,” said Jennifer Russell, U18 Women East Head Coach. “Players will finish the week with tools for individual deliberate practice and growing understanding of the mindset and characteristics required to play for Canada. We hope that players who attend camp will look back at it as an important and transformative experience in their rugby journey.”

Players will be notified of their selection in mid-July, with camp rosters announced by Rugby Canada in early August.

U18 WOMEN’S WEST STAFF

Chelsea Ross, Head Coach
Olly Winser, Assistant Coach
Jake Thiel, Assistant Coach

U18 WOMEN’S EAST STAFF

Jennifer Russell, Head Coach
Emma Delory, Assistant Coach
Curtis Lauzon, Assistant Coach
Sean Dunleavy, Assistant Coach
Jeremy Cairnie, Assistant Coach
Manon Bordeleau, Manager