VICTORIA – Two Vikes women's rugby players will compete for Canada's Women's U20 Team in England later this month, as Gabrielle Senft and Jennifer Appleby were selected to the squad that will face England U20 in a three-game series.
Canada, led by head coach Jen Boyd and managed by fourth-year Vike Nicole Crowley, will face off against their English counterparts at Trent College in Nottingham on August 18, 22 and 26.
"This team is very athletic, fast, mobile and physically imposing," Boyd said. "We have selected a versatile squad. We have athletes capable of playing several positions which will prove invaluable deep into tour."
Senft is coming off a busy summer, which saw her suit up Canada's Maple Leafs last month on their tour to Utah. The reigning CIS Rookie of the Year became the first UVic player to win a CIS major award in women's rugby after scoring three tries in four league contests and adding two in two games at the conference championship tournament to help the Vikes claim their first-ever title.
She will be joined on the team by Appleby, who is coming off of a silver at the U20 Canadian Rugby Championships and will be entering her second year as a prop with the Vikes in the fall.
"There is no greater test for an athlete's skills, conditioning and mental fortitude than playing an international competition against the best rugby players in the world," Boyd said. "These tours are pivotal for the next group of athletes interested in playing at the senior level."
Read the full Rugby Canada release here.
Canada's Women's U20 Squad to face England U20 (Name, club, hometown):
Jennifer Appleby (Castaway Wanderers), Regina, SK
Emily Babcock (Ottawa Irish), Scarborough, ON
Shawna Brayton (Sainte-Ann de Bellevue), Chateauguay, QC
Mackenzie Carson (Abbotsford RFC), Abbotsford, BC
Savannah Dubien (Rockers Athletic Club), Edmonton, AB
Taylor Durham (Guelph Red Coats), Burford, ON
Alex Ellis (Barrhaven Scottish), Ottawa, ON
Zana Everett, Brockville, ON
Erin Geddes (Lindsay Gryphons), Lindsay, ON
Sasha Guedes (Ottawa Irish), Gatineau, QC
Veronica Harrigan, London,ON
McKinley Hunt (Aurora Barbarians), King City, ON
Kasselle Menin (Calgary Hornets), Vulcan, AB
Jordyn Orlando (Burlington Centaurs) Burlington, ON
Tobi Owotomo (Toronto Saracens), Mississauga, ON
Megan Pakulis (Toronto Saracens), Toronto, ON
Justine Pelletier (Club de Rugby de Quebec), Quebec City, QC
McKenzie Pusch (St. Albert RFC), Edmonton, AB
Julia Schell (Oshawa Vikings), Uxbridge, ON
Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers), Regina, SK
Kylie Shaughnessy (Guelph Red Coats), Peterborough, ON
Dana Silerova (Sainte-Ann de Bellevue), Montreal, QC
Karina Stevenson (Calgary Hornets), Rocky Mountain House, AB
Taejah Thompson, (CCIAC), Calgary, AB
Meggie Turgeon (Club de Rugby de Quebec) Sherbrooke, QC
Emily Tuttosi, Souris, MB
Coaching Staff:
Jen Boyd – Head Coach
Kim Donaldson – Forwards Coach
Ricky Coombe – Backs Coach
Nicole Crowley - Manager
Amy Stefaniuk - Therapist
Josh Clayton – Analyst
Schedule:
August 18 – Canada U20 vs. England U20
August 22 – Canada U20 vs. England U20
August 26 – Canada U20 vs. England U20
