When the Concordia Stingers and the Laval Rouge et Or hit the pitch on Friday at 7 p.m., it will mark the first time since 1994 the Quebec university women’s rugby championship is held at Concordia University.
Under the direction of head coach Graeme McGravie, who took over the program in 2005, the Stingers have been in the playoffs six straight years and will play in their fourth consecutive championship game.
Concordia won the Quebec crown three times – 1998, 2007 and 2009. But the team has always had to win on the road.
The Stingers and the Rouge et Or have met three times in the championship game. In 2007, Concordia won 17-5. The following year, the teams played to a 20-20 tie, but Laval was awarded the victory based on the conference tie-breaking formula. Last year, the Stingers won 13-10 in overtime.
This marks the fourth time in a row, Concordia and Laval meet to decide women’s university rugby supremacy in Quebec.
“Fans are going to see 30 people going at it hard for 80 minutes,” says Stingers head coach Graeme McGravie. “It’s really going to be a battle out there. We know each other real well on and off the field. It will be a classic.”
Concordia finished the Quebec conference regular season in first place with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record and ranked No. 4 in the CIS Top 10. The Rouge et Or finished in second place with a 4-2 record and ranked No. 7 in the nation.
Laval’s only losses were to the Stingers who won by scores of 10-9 (Sept. 17) and 15-10 (Oct. 10).
“Laval is a complete team,” McGravie says. “We match up well with their forwards. Their backs are a little quicker, so we’re going to have to shut them down. They are the type of team that can score from anywhere, and that’s the biggest threat.
“Laval has to contain our forwards. That’s been our strength all year. In the kicking game, I think we have a slight edge. Jackie Tittley has been a little more consistent all year.”
The winner advances to the CIS Women’s Rugby Championship hosted by Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. Nov. 4-7.
Tickets are $5 for the championship game played at Concordia stadium, 7200 Sherbrooke St. W.
