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<\/a><\/p>\nRugby Canada article link<\/a><\/p>\n 2014 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup Team\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> The road to the final game in the 2014 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) included many remarkable elements, none of which could have coalesced without the combined talent and commitments of the players, coaches, and provincial unions.<\/p>\n Preparations for the 2014 Rugby World Cup included two Nations Cup competitions held in North America in 2011 and 2013, during which the Canadian squad recorded its first and second-ever victories over England.<\/p>\n During the 2014 WRWC pool rounds, having defeated Spain (31-5) and Samoa (42-7), Canada tied England in its third pool round game. This put Canada ahead of New Zealand in the tally of competition points and sent the Canadian squad to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n Canada met France in the semi-final match in front of 20,000 French supporters walking away with a narrow win (18-16) earning a spot in the final. Canada would conclude its historic run with a hard fought 21-9 loss to England. Nevertheless, the team managed to raise the bar to a level\u00a0never before\u00a0reached by a Canadian National Rugby team.\u00a0 In doing so, they captured the hearts and inspired the entire rugby community and sports fans across Canada.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s 2014 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup Team:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em> ___________________________________<\/p>\n Barbara Mervin<\/strong><\/p>\n Barbara Mervin, a Flanker\/Backrow player was born in St. John\u2019s, Newfoundland, and raised in Peterborough Ontario. She is affiliated with the Peterborough Pagans RFC in Ontario. She won her first provincial title in the U19 Ontario league in 2000.\u00a0 She attended and played for the Western University Mustangs RFC from 2002-2006, winning the CIS Rookie of the Year award in 2002, and Player of the Year Award in 2005. \u00a0While winning 2 CIS National Titles during her time at Western, and earning a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in art history.\u00a0 She was also selected for the Senior Ontario provincial teams in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 she moved across Canada to Victoria, BC, joining the Velox Valkyries RFC for the past 13 years to present day (2019), earning 6 BC Provincial Championships and 9 BC runner up Finalist appearances. \u00a0She has been the team Captain from 2008-2010, and again in 2015-2016.\u00a0 Moving into the Coaching roles as well in 2017-2018. During these years Barbara made the Rugby Canada national senior team debuting in 2005 against New Zealand and with the Sevens team in 2008 in Amsterdam. She has earned a total of 25 caps for NSWT 15’s and 7 caps for NSWT\u00a07’s play, including winning the Las Vegas 7\u2019s Tournament in 2012\u00a0 .\u00a0 She was selected for 3 RWCs, playing in the 2010 in Spain, 2014\u00a0in France earning a silver medal for 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0place finish, and ending with the 2017 RWC in Ireland. Winning Rugby Canada\u2019s Gillian Florence Award in 2015 for the RC Women\u2019s Player of the Year.\u00a0 She has been a staple on the BC provincial teams since 2007, and has won numerous premier BC provincial championships with the Velox Valkyries\u2019 team.\u00a0 She established herself in the field of sports modeling career as well, with features such in Beauty of Sports edition for Sportsnet Magazine in 2013. \u00a0Barbara is currently married to long time Velox\/Westshore Men’s and NSMT alumni player Clay Panga. \u00a0She earned a diploma in fashion design from the Pacific Design Academy in Victoria and is now the founder of APTOELLA\u00a0 RUGBY APPAREL, a rugby clothing line for women.\u00a0Here is her website;\u00a0http:\/\/aptoella.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Eli Alarie<\/strong><\/p>\n Elissa Alarie grew up in Trio’s- Rivi\u00e8res, Ouebec graduated from Universit\u00e9 du Qu\u00e9bec \u00e0 Trois- Rivi\u00e8res with a degree in accounting.\u00a0 She played for Ste-Anne de Bellevue RFC before moving to Victoria to train with Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s Sevens program. Elissa is one of the veterans, having spent the last decade of her rugby life suiting up for Canada. After breaking in with the U-19 team, she played for the U-23 team before graduating to the Senior National level where she has played for both Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s Fifteens and Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s Sevens Teams.\u00a0 She made her debut for the national 7’s team in Hong Kong in 2013 and received her first 15’s NSWT cap at National Cup in the same year, where Canada won their first ever tournament title.\u00a0\u00a0She was a member of Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup team that finished second at the 2014 WRWC. In the World Rugby Women\u2019s Sevens Series, in which she has 11 career tries as of 2016. She was a member of the NSWT for the 2018 RWC.\u00a0 Elissa joined Westshore RFC in the 2016 season and is still currently tearing up the pitch.\u00a0 Elissa started playing rugby at age 16, was first intrigued by how rugby brought abilities from many other sports into one. She writes an \u201cA\u201d on the inside of her left wrist for luck\u2026 On game day will write down two things she\u2019s grateful for. Favourite motto: Doubt your fears, not your dreams\u2026<\/p>\n Amanda Thornborough<\/strong><\/p>\n Amanda Thornborough completed her\u00a0undergraduate studies in Political Science at St.\u00a0Francis Xavier in NS. Originally from Brandon, Manitoba she has now experienced life on both sides of the country\u00a0and now lives in Victoria and trains with Velox\/Westshore\u00a0Valkyries when she is not training with the Canada women.\u00a0Amanda helped the\u00a0National Women\u2019s Sevens team to an undefeated\u00a0win at the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament in\u00a02013. Later that year\u00a0she received her\u00a0first National Senior Women\u2019s Cap in at the 2013\u00a0Nations Cup.\u00a0Amanda was also featured in the\u00a02014 CAN-AM Series where Canada\u2019s Women defeated USA.\u00a0 She was a member of Canada\u2019s\u00a0Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup team that\u00a0finished second at the 2014 WRWC, and the 2018 WRWC.\u00a0Amanda Thornborough was selected for the 2nd time for the Women\u2019s Barbarian Rugby Team, first selected in 2017 and again in 2019.\u00a0Amanda has been a member of the Velox\/Westshore RFC family since 2013.<\/p>\n Jess Dovanne<\/strong><\/p>\n Jessica Dovanne of Victoria is presently an active member of the Velox Valkyries Women\u2019s rugby team.\u00a0 She has been playing rugby for over a decade now, having been honored to wear the jersey of many different clubs; Thomas Haney Secondary School, Burnaby Lake RFC, University of Victoria and Velox Valkyries.\u00a0 She has represented the BC provincial team many teams, as well as playing for 7 caps for the National Senior Women\u2019s 15 and 7\u2019s team.\u00a0 Her first time playing for Canada was for the NSWT 15\u2019s in the nation\u2019s cup in 2011, against England, USA, and South Africa; where she commented \u201cIt is tournaments like this one that are vital to our continued development as players and as a team as they expose us to rugby from all corners of the world.\u201d Jessica\u00a0was been selected for both the NSW 15\u2019s and 7\u2019s teams for the 2013 season.<\/p>\n Julianne Zussman<\/strong><\/p>\n Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Julianne Zussman now currently calls Victoria her home, joining the Velox Valkyries Senior Women\u2019s team\u00a0for the 2013-2015\u00a0seasons.\u00a0 Playing Full back or winger, she has played for the Quebec provincial team since 2005. Julianne debuted with Canada\u2019s XVs team in November 2007 against Scotland and with the Sevens team at the USA Sevens in 2008, including the Rugby World Cup in 2010, earning a total of 15 caps. Julianne holds a Bachelor\u2019s degree in international development from McGill University and was affiliated with the Town of Mount Royal RFC.\u00a0 She was a member of the NSW 15\u2019s and 7\u2019s teams.\u00a0 She joined the Oakbay CW RFC team in 2016, where she retired from active playing, and is now a top level referee for BCRU.<\/p>\n Brittany Waters<\/strong><\/p>\n Brittany Waters a Wing\/Center from Vancouver, BC.\u00a0 Started playing rugby while attending UVIC for her B.A. degree\u00a0from 2003-2008 for the Vikes Women’s team.\u00a0 She was named to the CIS All Star Team in 2005.\u00a0 Which kicked off Brittany into a high performance player, being noticed by Rugby Canada.\u00a0 She has 16+ caps for National women’s 7’s play from 2007-2014.\u00a0 Which included 2\u00a0 7’s RWCs: the inaugural 2009 in Dubai, and the 2013 in Russia winning a silver medal.\u00a0 She was a member of the centralized 7’s players program\u00a0for RC in 2013-14.\u00a0 She earned 26 caps for national 15’s action from 2008-2014, debuting in CAN vs USA in 2008. Including 3 RWC for 15’s: 2010 in England, 2014 in France earning a silver medal, and\u00a02017 in Ireland.\u00a0 She played club level rugby for UVIC from 2003-2008 in Victoria, Meralomas RFC from 2009-2014 in Vancouver (where she earned her Masters in Occupational Therapy from UBC), Velox Valkyries 2014-2015 and Oakbay CW from 2016-2017 again in Victoria before retiring from play in Dec 2017.\u00a0 Brittany started coaching in 2011 for UVIC as an assistant Coach, before taking the reigns as head coach in 2015, where she was named Canada West Coach of the year.\u00a0 Her teams went on to win Canada West Championships in 7’s action in 2015 and 2018, and National university title in 2017.<\/p>\n Latoya Blackwood<\/strong><\/p>\n Latoya is from Montreal and played with St. Anne de Bellevue RFC,\u00a0and\u00a0attended the University of\u00a0Western Ontario and Concordia University. In\u00a02012 she received Concordia\u2019s Fittest Athletes of\u00a0 the Year award. Blackwood received her first cap\u00a0at Nations Cup in 2013 and helped Canada\u00a0capture their first ever tournament title as a Lock.\u00a0Latoya was nominated for 2013 Women\u2019s\u00a0Fifteens Player of the Year and also featured in\u00a0the 2014 CAN-AM Series where Canada\u2019s Women\u00a0defeated USA.\u00a0 She played a key role as a member of\u00a0 Canada’s Women’s World cup silver medallists\u00a0in 2015. In the same year, she signed on\u00a0professionally with European powerhouse French club Stade Toulousain RFC.\u00a0 She has 31 caps for Canada on the NSWT. Latoya now resides in Victoria, playing for Westshore RFC starting in the 2016 season.\u00a0 She retired from playing in 2018 and taking up the whistle as a BCRU referee, She now is the assistant coach for the\u00a0Westshore Valkyries Women’s team.\u00a0 Of note she is married to long time Velox Valkyrie Charlotte Haley.<\/p>\n Laura Russell<\/strong><\/p>\n Laura Russell is a Prop from Bolton, Ontario.\u00a0 She is the Sister of\u00a0Kelly Russell, also NSWT member. She played for the Toronto Nomads RFC before attending Western University Mustangs rugby team while gaining\u00a0her secondary education.\u00a0Moved to Victoria, BC playing for Velox Valkyries in 2010-2011.\u00a0She has 44 caps for Canada National Team, winning the RC Women’s Player of the Year award in 2016.\u00a0 She has played many games representing Canada 7’s\u00a0action, Captaining the squad into the RWC 7’s in 2016. She has made selections for 2 different RWC’s 15’s in 2014 silver medal finish and again in 2017 as Captain.\u00a0 She has been with Cowichan RFC for the past 4-5 years, while also performing as an assistant coach for UVIC.<\/p>\n Kelly Russell<\/strong><\/p>\n Kelly Russell is #8\/Loose Forward from Bolton, Ontario.\u00a0 Sister of Laura Russell, also NSWT member. She played for the Toronto Nomads RFC before attending Western University Mustangs rugby team while gaining\u00a0 her secondary education.\u00a0Moved to Victoria, BC playing for Velox Valkyries from 2009-2011.\u00a0 This was the start of her playing for Canada with the National 7’s team starting in 2009 until 2016, earning numerous caps,\u00a0including 2 RWC in 2009 and a silver medal finish in 2013.\u00a0 She was also the Captain for\u00a0CAN 7’s team for the gold medal win for the 2015 PAN\/AM Games, and the 2016 Olympic team that won bronze. Kelly’s Canada 15′ action has seen her collect 53 caps, winning RC Women’s 15’s Player of the Year award\u00a0in 2013.\u00a0 \u00a0She played in 3 RWC in 2010 (named to RWC All-Star Squad), as Captain in 2014 with a silver medal 2nd place finish, and in 2017.\u00a0 Where she made the inaugural International Barbarians Team also in 2017.\u00a0 She retired from playing in the end of 2017. She moved back to Toronto and is coaching for the Nomads RFC and for Canada’s National 7’s Academy Team.<\/p>\n
\nThe 2014 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup Team delivered breakout performances in the lead up to and during the 2014 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup in France. This historic group of elite athletes turned in a magical performance in 2014 making it all the way to the Final to be narrowly defeated by England.\u00a0 Their 2nd\u00a0place finish is highest Rugby World Cup finish of any Canadian side.\u00a0 Additionally, six players were named to the 2014 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup \u201cDream Team\u201d as voted by fans from around the globe and following the final, Magali Harvey was named the 2014 IRB Women\u2019s Rugby Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
\nKim Donaldson, Mary Jane Kirby<\/strong>, Olivia\u00a0DeMerchant, Hilary Leith, Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, Laura Russell<\/strong>, Tyson\u00a0Beukeboom, Latoya Blackwood<\/strong>, Kayla Mack, Maria Samson, Barbara Mervin<\/strong>, Jacey Murphy, Karen Paquin, Kelly Russell<\/strong>, Stephanie Bernier, Julia Sugawara, Emily\u00a0Belchos, Julianne\u00a0Zussman<\/strong>, Andrea Burk, Mandy Marchuk, Amanda\u00a0Thornborough<\/strong>, Brittany Benn, Jessica Dovanne<\/strong>, Magali Harvey, Brittany Waters<\/strong>, Cindy Nelles, and Elissa Alarie<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n