The Concordia Stingers will head to the U Sports women’s rugby national championship in Victoria this week as the 5th-seeded team and will face the St. Francis Xavier X-Women on Day 1 of the competition.
“It’s going to be a tough week,” said Concordia head coach Graeme McGravie. “We need to get through that first game versus St. Francis Xavier and they are a big, physical team.”
That game takes place at 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday. The winner will move onto the semifinals and meet the winner of the Guelph Gryphons-Victoria Vikes game. The loser goes to the consolation side of the draw.
McGravie doesn’t see a clear favorite heading into the championship.
“The team that wins nationals will be the one that is most physical, most consistent and adapts to the week,” he said. “The biggest adjustment for most teams will be playing on grass."
The Stingers will have a lot of experienced players on the roster in Victoria. Fifteen of the 25 players in the lineup are fourth- and fifth-year athletes, while only three rookies are making the trip.
“We’re a veteran team,” McGravie said. “Because of that it’s not surprising that we a tight-knit group. When we work as a team we’re good. We have collective strength.”
The Stingers leave Montreal for Victoria today. On Wednesday they will practise and attend the U Sports awards gala.
National championship seeding:
- 1. Guelph Gryphons (OUA champions)
- 2. Ottawa Gee-Gees (RSEQ champions)
- 3. Calgary Dinos (Canada West champions)
- 4. St. FX X-Women (AUS champions)
- 5. Concordia Stingers (RSEQ finalists)
- 6. Acadia Axewomen (AUS finalists)
- 7. McMaster Marauders (OUA finalists)
- 8. Victoria Vikes (Hosts/Canada West finalists)
