Rugby Suits Taylor Just Fine

Courtesy Steve Bezanson, The Chronicle Herald

A few years ago Emma Taylor was looking for an activity where she could "let it all out."

Basketball, hockey and soccer were the traditional sports she enjoyed, and played well, but it was rugby where she found the perfect marriage.

"I was aggressive in every sport, but it was rugby where I could really go for it and kind of be myself," said Taylor, a native of Scotsburn and a member of the reigning national CIS champion St. Francis Xavier University X-Women's rugby squad.

"In rugby there was a different kind of team atmosphere, kind of a family aspect to it and I gravitated to it right away."

That turning point in her sports career came in Grade 9 at Northumberland Regional High School in Alma, Pictou County. Seven years later, her passion for rugby is stronger than ever.

"We won a national title in my first year at X and also this year," said Taylor, who just completed her third season at the Antigonish university.

"She has a great combination of size and athletic ability, which plays very well for rugby," said Geno Carew, an assistant coach with Team Atlantic, of which Taylor is also a member.

"For someone of her size, she has tremendous speed and is a force around the field, both as a defender and on the attack."

Taylor will return to St. F.X. in the fall but her main focus will be playing for Canada at the 2014 World Cup in France next August.

"She definitely has the potential to make it," said Carew. "She's still young and just needs more experience in high-level games. She was a standout for the X-Women, is very much a powerful player and definitely a leader."

Undefeated last season, the X-Women whipped the Guelph Gryphons 32-0 in the final, becoming the first team in history to win a national crown on their home turf.

"I remember a specific point in that game when I forgot what was going on and just looked around, at the crowd around the fences, at the people up on the hill, at the jammed-packed stands, and it just hit me, the support we had was amazing," said Taylor.

"I will easily say that moment was one of the best feelings I've ever had. It wasn't just about winning. A lot of times, especially in female sports, you don't get that kind of support. But seeing so many people there and having the the whole community behind you, was just a great ending to an amazing season."

Regardless of whether she plays in next year's World Cup, Taylor, who graduated from King's-Edgehill School in Windsor in 2010, is looking at the bigger picture.

"From there, whether I make it or don't, I have a long road ahead," said Taylor, who is only 20. "I could potentially play in three world cups (held every four years). There are a lot of girls playing in their mid-30s and they are just as good as they were 10 years ago."

That said, Taylor, a business student, will return to St. F.X. for a fourth season, and also the first semester of her fifth year.

"I want to play all five years at X," said Taylor. "We had a lot of seniors graduate but we have a strong core base. We need to fill a few positions and hopefully some of the younger girls will be ready to step up.

"As for myself, I hope I'm able to play a major leadership role and help us with being just as successful as we have been."

One man who is looking forward to having Taylor back at St. F.X. is coach Mike Cavanagh.

"She's a great student athlete and she's really grown into her self," said Cavanagh. "There are players and there are movers, and she can do both. When there's heavy lifting to get done, she can do it, and she also has the athletic ability to score a lot of tries. She can really dominate a game.

"She also works hard in the off-season, is very versatile, a team player, very coachable and I don't think she has hit her potential yet.

"I really believe she has a good chance of making it to the worlds because she can play so many positions."