SEASON PREVIEW: Scrum for AUS women’s rugby banner to kick off this weekend

Parity continues to develop in four-team conference

By Corey LeBlanc

Although the UPEI Panthers captured their first Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's rugby title last season, James Voye said his program believes, "We still have something to prove."

"We don't want to take a step back; we want to show everyone that we are here to stay," the UPEI head coach explained of its position at the top of the four-team conference.

After finishing second in the 2022 regular season, with a 4-2 record, the Panthers scored a two-point (14-12) semi-final victory over the standard bearers in the conference – the STFX X-Women – who had won the previous five AUS titles. UPEI wrapped up the unexpected run to their first USPORTS national championship tournament with a 33-12 road triumph over the first-place Acadia Axewomen.

"We need to maintain our strong structure defensively, where we were much improved last season," Voye – the 2022 AUS and USPORTS coach of the year – said, when asked about keys to success as they shoot to repeat as conference champions.

Although he conceded it could be "difficult" to match the league-low 42 points surrendered by his Panthers last season, he offered, "But, we want to be at least that strong."

From that defensive backbone, Voye explained, UPEI builds its offensive attack.

When it comes to key contributors, if the Panthers are able to go back-to-back, he noted that there is a collection of returning senior student-athletes who need to lead the way.

Front row players prop Olivia McLeod (Charlottetown, PE), AUS all-star prop Emily Duffy (Saint John, NB) and hooker Tessa Hood (Charlottetown, PE) will be names to remember, along with scrum half Mia Fradsham (Marshfield, PE) and captain Emma MacLean (Cole Harbour, NS) – a fourth-year flanker – will be expected to provide plenty of skill and veteran experience.

There is also 2022 conference all-star fullback Charlotte Branchflower (Halifax, NS), who will be focussing on building on that strong season.

"She will help us open up the playbook," Voye said of Paige MacLean (Summerside, PE), including in then kicking game.

Sophomore wing Ria Johnston (Charlottetown, PE) will be shuffled to outside centre, where Voye expects her "to get the ball more often."

When it comes to first-year players, Voye said that Alanna Mabey (Charlottetown, PE), a Canada Games' performer for her province, will provide "a little bit more finish" to the line-up.

"She has next level speed," he added, noting that will help UPEI's "defense on the edges," which is crucial versus fast teams, such as Acadia.

There is also Kiley Brow (Saint John, NB), a 17-year-old loose head prop, who Voye noted played well in a rookie pre-season match with the Carleton Ravens, along with another homegrown product – Sahara MacLean (Charlottetown, PE).

"We are really looking forward to kicking off the season," he said.

'The next step'

As for the AUS regular-season champions the past two seasons, Acadia has struck out when it comes to winning conference banners. They dropped the 2022 and 2023 championship matches on their Wolfville campus home turf.

"We are focused on taking the next step, finishing things off this season," head coach Matthew Durant said of his Axewomen, who won their lone AUS crown in 2015; one that snapped the 13-year stranglehold the rival STFX X-Women had on the conference championship.

Heading into another year, Durant described things as "pretty typical" for his program, including a "few questions marks," when it comes to his starting line-up.

"There is a lot of transition happening," he offered of rugby, in general, in Canada and around the world.

In 2023, Durant expects his roster to be "fairly competitive."

Junior centre Sara Grant (Melrose, NB), who captain Rugby Canada's U20 squad this summer, is back for another season with the Axewomen. She garnered an AUS all-star spot in 2022.

Durant said of his All-Canadian, "We are going to rely on her a lot; not only for her veteran leadership, but also, obviously, her skill."

He also pointed to his "solid forwards" as keys to success, including Katelyn Landry (Riverview, NB), who has "plenty of experience at a high level."

Second row-lock Chloe Buckingham (Moncton, NB) – a second-team All-Canadian – also returns with her experience and talent on the pitch.

"I don't think – not right off the bat," Durant said, when asked if he expects any first-year Axewomen to make an immediate impact.

"We have a veteran-laden team, you could say, so it will be a tough year to crack the starting line-up."

Nevertheless, Durant noted, there are some "really good athletes" amongst the recruiting class who could contribute in 2023.  

No matter who takes the pitch for Acadia, AUS fans can expect to see the program's signature "high tempo" style.

And, because of that "fast-moving attack," Durant noted how fitness is crucial for the Axewomen.

"A lot of parity," he said, when asked what he expects from the AUS in 2023.

Durant added, "We are looking forward to getting going."

Unfamiliar territory

A .500 record (3-3) in the regular season, a third-place finish and a semi-final loss in the AUS playoffs are not results that the perennial powerhouse in Antigonish – the STFX X-Women – or their fans, are accustomed to in women's rugby. Not to mention no trip to the USPORTS national tournament; something that hasn't happened since Mike Cavanagh became head coach of the program.

He explained that the White and Blue – winners of 18 of the past 20 conference banners – were hindered over the past few years by not only the COVID-19 global pandemic, but also – because of playing fewer matches – the stalled development of STFX's first and second-year athletes. Cavanagh suggested those factors peaked last season, which resulted in a disappointing finish.

"I thought that we weren't where we should be," he offered, explaining that his roster – both starters and reserves – were not receiving enough playing time, which caused a trickle-down effect on his line-up.

Cavanagh added, "It really hurt us."

In an effort to combat those results, the STFX women's rugby program expanded its schedule for 2023, which included a pre-season series with NCAA opponents in the northeastern United States.

"Everyone has been making tremendous progress," Cavanagh offered, including his first and second-year student-athletes; not to mention the veterans.

Along with key second-years – such as the versatile Sierra Wood (Stirling, ON), who captured the 2022 award as the conference's top rookie – the X-Women expect big seasons from prop Emma MacDougall (Halifax, NS) and back row Skye Koyote (Duncan, BC); both played internationally over the summer.

"They are going to be leaders for us – on and off the field," Cavanagh said.

Juniors – center Katherine 'Kat' Culligan (Halifax, NS) and 2^nd row Sophie Beck (Fall River, NS) – along with flanker Camryn Kieynhans (Durban, South Africa), have been showing that they are ready to increase their contributions to the program.

The first-year group expected to make an impact includes Jessie Penney (Clarkes Beach, NL), Akwaima Akpan (Lower Sackville, NS) – who has Rugby Canada U20 experience; Kate Childs (Halifax, NS) and Drew Bell (Ajax, ON),  who both made the 40-player roster for this summer's national U18 east camp.

"We expect all of them to help us this season," Cavanagh said of those newcomers.

He agreed that the X-Women have a steely-eyed focus on getting back to the top of the AUS and return to familiar territory – the national championship tournament stage.

"We are hungry to get back there."

Improving Huskies

Although they were winless (0-6) last season, the Saint Mary's Huskies continued to make strides in their effort to become a contender in the highly-competitive conference.

"We are looking to build on our successes from last year," head coach Emma DeLory said, including further narrowing the point differential in matches with their AUS opponents.

She explained work continues to ramp up, when it comes to "building our culture."

"Our incoming student-athletes will have something to work towards," DeLory noted.

She added, "It has been a long time coming," in terms of putting together that foundation.

Delory credited Saint Mary's assistant Janice Cougle for doing much of the heavy lifting last season, when it comes to culture building, while she was serving as Rugby Canada's team manager at the World Cup.

"Janice has done a lot of work," the Saint Mary's head coach said.

As part of the focus on continuing to trim point differential, DeLory explained that – along with continuing to score more – they will have to tighten their defense. She said her program has developed a game plan fashioned, specifically, for each AUS opponent.

Junior fly half Lauren Maye (Lower Sackville, NS), who has spent time with Rugby Canada's U20 program, is expected to be one of the key contributors to continuing Saint Mary's progress in 2023.

"She has a lot of experience playing at a high level and under pressure," DeLory said of her third-year student-athlete.

The Huskies' mentor offered a similar assessment of Devyn Di Nardo (Toronto, ON), who has taken the pitch with the U19 Atlantic women's program.

"Their experience is going to help us – on and off the field," DeLory noted.

One of the key newcomers in the line-up is no stranger to Saint Mary's varsity sports fans. Isabel Goncalves (Wellington, NS) played soccer last season for the Maroon and White.

"She loves both sports, but she decided to make the switch to rugby," DeLory explained.

Goncalves, who will play in the back – wing and fullback, brings "tremendous speed" to the pitch, according to her new Saint Mary's head coach.

DeLory said another key newcomer – freshman Katie Carmichael of the New Brunswick Spruce 7s – provides that same ingredient.

"We are going to take advantage of her speed as well," she added.

When it comes to challenging their AUS opponents – three former conference championships with national tournament experience – DeLory explained, "We have to be organized well in advance, and understand our opponents."

She stressed preparation is crucial.

"We know that we are facing a big challenge every time we take the field," she added.

DeLory said the Huskies benefit greatly from playing against some of the strongest university women's rugby programs in Canada.

She noted it also "bodes well" for the sport, especially for women, in Atlantic Canada.

DeLory added it shows young players that there are opportunities here to play "high-performance sport."

Noting that the Huskies hope to have strong fan support this season, she said, "We are looking forward to getting started."

Season openers

The 2023 AUS regular season get underway on Saturday, Sept. 9, with the X-Women hosting the Huskies, while the Axewomen will visit the Panthers.

Kick-off for both contests is 2 p.m. ADT.

The second-place team in the regular season will host the conference semi-final versus the second-place squad on Saturday, Oct. 21, with the winner of that match-up visiting the first-place finisher for the 2023 Subway AUS Women's Rugby Championship match on Saturday, Oct. 28.