Acadia tops 2025 AUS Women’s Rugby Preseason Coaches’ Poll

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Fresh off their first conference title since 2015, the Acadia Axewomen have been chosen by the conference's head coaches as the team to beat heading into the 2025 AUS women's rugby season.

The Axewomen earned nine total points and three first-place votes in the annual AUS Women's Rugby Preseason Coaches' Poll, edging out the STFX X-Women (seven points, one first-place vote), who finished second after sharing top spot in last year's regular-season standings and reaching the 2024 AUS final.

The UPEI Panthers, who advanced to last season's semifinal, were picked third with five points, while the Saint Mary's Huskies rounded out the ranking in fourth place with three points.

All four teams will hit the field this weekend as the 2025 AUS women's rugby season officially kicks off. The schedule features STFX hosting UPEI Friday at 7 p.m. in Antigonish, while Acadia opens its title defence on the road against Saint Mary's on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Halifax.

Last fall, Acadia defeated UPEI 36–21 in the semifinal before capturing a dramatic 29–25 championship win over STFX in Antigonish. The Axewomen will now look to defend their crown against a STFX squad hungry for redemption, a Panthers team pushing to close the gap, and a Huskies side eager to climb the ladder.