Four rugby X-Women to play for Canada
X-Women rugby is well represented on the Canadian U20 team, as four members of the AUS champion and CIS silver medal squad are on the current national roster.
Prop Asya Bartley (Ottawa, ON) will be entering her third year at StFX this fall, as will center Stephanie MacKinnon (Rothesay, NB), and both have played on Canadian teams in past summers. Jessica Jacobs (Caledon, ON) recently completed her first year with the X-Women in both the hooker and flanker position and joins Bartley and MacKinnon on the Canadian squad, as does incoming X-Women freshman Beth McNeill from Vancouver, BC. Second year StFX center and 2009 AUS Rookie of the Year Amanda Thornborough was also asked to play on the U20 team but declined.
The team is scheduled to travel to the Bahamas in August to take part in the NACRA (North America and Caribbean Rugby Association) Championship. The complete press release from Rugby Canada follows.
U-20 WOMEN COMPETING IN NACRA CHAMPIONSHIP IN AUGUST
Courtesy Bryan Kelly, Rugby Canada
While our NSWT are in final preparation for the World Cup in England this August and September, the next generation of Canadian Women’s U-20 will be busy with their own tour to Nassau, Bahamas to take part in Nacra Championship.
The 24-woman squad from all across the country will depart August 12th and play games against the Cayman Islands, USA U-20 and Caribbean Selects (players selected from remaining Caribbean Islands) before returning home on August 22nd.
The final details of the tournament schedule have yet to be finalised by the organising committee but the Canadian National Coaching staff of Jason Young and Beth Barz have announced their 24-women roster.
U-20 Canadian Women's Roster for Nacra Championship
Lindsay Anderson Ont Toronto Irish
Asya Bartley Ont Barrhaven Scottish
Erin Beazley NS Valley Tide
Stacie Becker AB St. Albert Rugby Club
Meagan Chambers BC Abbotsford
Teanna Chase AB Strathcona Druids
Tia Croteau BC Bayside Sharks
Becky Delaney Ont Oakville Crusaders
Randi Hunter BC Uvic
Jessica Jacobs Ont Brampton RFC
Jacqui Laidler BC United Rugby Club
Morganne Linthwaite Ont Highland RFC
Stephanie Mackinnon NB St. John Trojans RFC
Misha Maric Ont Balmy Beach
Katie McNally Ont Highland RFC
Beth McNeill BC Capilano RFC
Kayla Moleschi BC Williams Lake RFC
Michelle Moore BC Cowichan RFC
Laura Murphy-Burke BC Bayside RFC
Miranda Smith Ont Brampton RFC
Sade Smith BC Bayside RFC
Lauren Tagg BC Burnaby Lake
Casey Thorburn NL Swilers
Kelsey Willoughby AB Lethbridge
Jason Young BC Coach
Beth Barz Ont Coach
Laura Libby Ont Therapist
Penny Delaney Ont Manager