Seven of the 15 starters for the Canadian U20 national rugby team participating in the upcoming Nations Cup in England are members of the 11-time defending AUS champion and CIS silver medalist X-Women rugby team.  Returning StFX players Jillian MacLaren, Asya Bartley, Jamee George and Julie Emmerson are teammates on the national team along with incoming X-Women freshmen Jessica Jacobs, Tyson Beukeboom and Amanda Thornborough.

- RUGBY CANADA - Rugby Canada is pleased to announce the roster to represent Canada’s U20 Women’s program in their opening match of the 2009 Nations Cup today in England. As part two of the double-header to kick-off the event, Canada will take on host England, following the Wales-U.S.A match.

Head coach Kris de Scossa and his Assistant Coaches, Jason Young and Chal Smyth and Associate Coach Beth Barz, in addition to Team Manager, Penny Delaney, have selected a 22- player roster  who will proudly wear red and white versus one of the top nations of any level in the women’s game.

Canada’s first matchup may indeed be their toughest as England are defending champions of the U20 Nations Cup, after winning the competition last year in Oakville, Ontario. Looking to exact vengeance versus England, Canada will attempt to overturn the two losses they suffered on the same day at the 2008 competition.

After landing in the United Kingdom on Monday, the team has spent two days recovering from jet lag and training to prepare for what is shaping up to be a gritty battle today.

“We will take on these nations and look to produce a performance to the best of our abilities,” comments de Scossa.

Captaining the Canadians will be Brittany Orr of Fort Macleod, Alberta who also plays for the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Rugby Football Club. Her Vice Captain for today’s test is Ottawa native Jill McLaren who plays her university rugby with St. FX while representing the club side of the Ottawa Irish.

The two will look to lead a young team to an honorable result in their first of four matches at this year’s competition. In just three days time, Canada will face Wales, followed by rivals U.S.A. on July 15th before concluding with the final day of rugby on July 18th.

U20W Nations Cup Roster vs. England – Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Asya Bartley, Nepean, ON, St FX, Barrhaven Scottish
Lauren Tagg, Coquitlam, BC, Heritage Woods Secondary, Burnaby Lake
Julie Emmerson , Moncton, NB, St. FX, Moncton RFC
Jesse Olynyck, Kamloops, BC, University of Victoria, University of Victoria
Jamee George, Brandon, MB, St. FX, Brandon Barbs
Jessica Jacobs, Caledon, ON, Mayfield Secondary School, Brampton RFC
Jill Maclaren, Ottawa, ON, St. FX, Ottawa Irish  - Vice Captain
Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, ON, Uxbridge SS, Oshawa Vikings
Megan Hamm, Aldergrove, BC, UFV, Abbotsford
Beth McNeill, North Vancouver, BC, Carson Graham, Capilano RFC
Kayla Moleschi, Williams Lake, BC, Columneetza Secondary, Columneetza Cougars
Mackenzie Higgs, Aurora, ON, University of Guelph, Aurora Barbarians
Amanda Thornborough, Brandon, MB, University of Manitoba, Brandon Barbarians
Amanda Lalonde, Edmonton, AB, Grant MacEwan College, St. Albert Rugby Club
Brittany Orr, Fort Macleod, AB, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge RFC - Captain
Stacie Becker, St Albert, AB, University of Alberta, St. Albert Rugby Club
Hayley Smith, Olds, AB, Olds Senior High School, Red Deer Titans
Kayla Mack, Saskatoon, SK, Wild Oats RFC
Alex Hendricks,  Lamond, AB, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge
Lyndzi Anderson, Barrie, ON, University of Western Ontario, Toronto Irish
Radha Jain, Mississauga, ON, UBC, York Yeoman
Jenn Skilnick, Saskatoon, SK, University of Saskatchewan, Wild Oats RFC

U20s Nations Cup playing schedule:

July 9th
Wales v USA
Canada v England

July 12th
Canada v Wales
England v USA

July 15th
Canada v USA 
England v Wales

July 18th
Consolation Finals
Final

Story courtesy Rugby Canada