Bloodlines run deep with latest women's rugby recruits

5/14/2015 8:05:00 AM | By: Posted by: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer)


// Signees // 2015 CIS Championship at Queen's

KINGSTON, Ont. (May 22, 2015) - Queen's women's rugby head coach Beth Barz is pleased to announce the signing and commitment of eight recruits to the Gaels women's rugby program.

Joining Queen's for the upcoming season are back row/tight 5 Harlee Bruce (Lakefield, Ont.), scrum half Jordi Di Nardo (Toronto), centre Hannah Greenwood (Kingston, Ont.), scrum half/flanker Lucy Killacky (Wolfville, N.S.), prop/flanker Abby Refausse (Trenton, Ont.), scrum half Dominique Rumball (Scarborough, Ont.), Sadie Stephenson (Oakville, Ont.) and prop Mykayla Wilson (Kingston, Ont.).

11798 — Hannah (front left) with her family
celebrating the 2001 men's rugby
title at Queen's

Queen's connections are aplenty with this group of athletes, Hannah Greenwood's father Brad is a former Gael who won three OUA titles and was twice named an All-Star. As a coach at Queen's Brad Greenwood won seven OUA titles and was named OUA Coach of the Year once. In 2006, he was inducted into the Queen's University Coaches Hall of Fame and added another honour when he was selected to the Queen's Rugby Hall of Fame.

Rumball is a name that many Gaels rugby supporters are familiar with as both Jacob and Lucas have been pillars with the men's rugby team over the past few year's. Joining the women's side will be Dominique Rumball, the younger sister of Jacob and Lucas.

Jordi Di Nardo's mother, Barb was the driving force behind starting Queen's Women's Rugby as a varsity club back in 1991. Jordi will now wear the tricolour at Queen's thanks to the hard work from her mother in helping get women's rugby on the map.

"We're thrilled to add these excellent student-athletes to our incoming class for September 2015," said head coach Beth Barz. "Since all of these young women have played rugby at a representative level or have played in OFSAA level competition, they have already begun to experience sport at the university level and many have lofty aspirations. Our staff is excited to begin working with all of these players to ready them for this year's National Championship here at Queen's and for their future contributions to Queen's Women's Rugby alongside our returning players."

Please see below for an in depth look at these recruits and what they will bring to Queen's women's rugby.

The Gaels will return to Nixon Field this Fall as they begin their journey to the 2015 CIS Championship.

This November Nixon Field at Queen's University will play host to the best in Canada as the Queen's Gaels host the 2015 CIS women's rugby national championship in Kingston. The action starts off on Thursday November 5 where all eight participating teams will do battle looking to stake their claim as the CIS national champions.

Tickets for the national championship are on sale now! A special early bird tournament package is available for only $25 just visit www.gogaelsgo.com/tickets to purchase!

The Gaels will be making their fourth CIS national championship appearance in team history and look to improve on their best result of a CIS bronze medal during the 2013 season.

// Signees (Recruit Signing Day)

HARLEE BRUCE // BACK ROW/TIGHT 5

	Awards and achievements: Rugby Ontario 2013, 2014 for 15s... Rugby Ontario 7s 2015... named Best Forward for Ontario U16 program... Las Vegas 7s invitational winner.
	Barz's Take: Harlee is a powerful player who can be physical in both attack and defence. She is extremely coachable and asks questions regularly to solidify her learning, particularly when challenged. The growth mindset she has displayed in the past is something that will expediate her learning. We're thrilled she chose Queen's and worked so hard to acheive her offer of admission.

JORDI DI NARDO // SCRUM HALF

	Awards and achievements: Ontario U18 7s Las Vegas International champions... Ontario Storm U18, U16 for 15s (2 gold, 1 silver at national championships)... National championship in summer 2013... MVP and team captain in both grades 9/10... Junior athlete of the year grade 10... Scrumhalf for boys Ontario U14 team in 2011 ... Daughter of Barb Relton, founder of Queen's Women's Rugby program.
	Barz's Take: As a halfback, Jordi Di Nardo plays like a hybrid scrum-half/flanker with her willingness to get involved in the contact area and her passing and field vision are second to none at the age-grade level. Incidentally, Jordi's mother, Barb Dinardo, was the driving force behind starting Queen's Women's Rugby as a varsity club back in 1991.

HANNAH GREENWOOD // CENTRE

	Awards and achievements: RND Rugby MVP 2012-2014... Cathy Joyce Memorial Award (2013)... Member of Ontario U16 (2013)... EORU Rep program 2014... Silver Medal at Eastern Canadian Championships, Ontario Summer Games (2014)... Ontario East 7s program (2014-15)... OFSAA qualifier (2014)... RND Team Captain (2013- 2015)... Father Brad is a former Gaels rugby All-Star and Head Coach... Named to long-list for Canada U20 Rugby in 2015
	Barz's Take: Hannah was thrilled to be able to accept her offer at Queen's and has been working consistently in the gym to prepare for the rigours of university rugby for several years. Her experiences with Ontario 7s have honed her passing skills and she has proven herself to be a solid defender as well.

LUCY KILLACKY // SCRUM HALF/FLANKER

	Awards and achievements: Captain, King's Edgehill 2014, 2015... Athlete/Scholar of the Year (2012)... Nova Scotia Keltics Academy (2014, 2015)... Five year starter on King's Edghill varsity team
	Barz's Take: Lucy was a captain of her high school team and is used to shouldering the extra burden of being a leader while also performing under pressure. Her experience with the Nova Scotia provincial team will be of great help to her after her arrival on campus. We look forward to seeing what she will do at the interuniversity level.

ABBY REFAUSSE // PROP FLANKER

	Awards and achievements: Barbarian Cup (Jr Provincial Championship) Gold 2012, 2013... OFSAA Silver 2013, OFSAA Gold 2014... Ontario Summer Games 2014 EO 7's - Silver...MVP Belleville Bulldogs 2013 Season
	Barz's Take: Abby's previous experience in 7s rugby will be a real asset when the game speeds up. She is highly involved on her high school team, often making several tackles in a row on a single opponent's possession. We hope she will continue to bring those skills and fearlessness in contact to Queen's.

DOMINIQUE RUMBALL // SCRUM HALF

	Awards and achievements: Female Athlete of the Year... Rugby (and Hockey) MVP... Rugby Ontario U16, U18 15s... Younger sister of Jacob and Lucas Rumball who play for the men's rugby OUA championship team.
	Barz's Take: Dominique has consistently led her high school team in many sports and is a gifted athlete. Her athleticism will enable her to keep pace with the game at the university level and she doesn't shy away from contact due to her hockey background.

SADIE STEPHENSON // CENTRE

	Awards and achievements: Female athlete of the year 2011, 2012... Female rugby MVP 2013... Rugby OFSAA silver medal 2014... Halton & GHAC champion 2012,2013,2014... Captain of Junior and Senior rugby team... Captain of Highschool senior fieldhockey team... Bronze medalist at fieldhockey OFSAA 2013 ...2014 Team Ontario U18 team member, silver medalists... Four generations of her family have attended Queen's.
	Barz's Take: Sadie's speed and desire to compete on every play is clear and obvious. She looks for work consistently and creates opportunities through anticipation and hard work throughout every game she plays.

MYKAYLA WILSON // PROP

	Awards and achievements: OFSAA participant in 2013 and 2014... Also plays hockey ... Has played under head coach Beth Barz at the high school level at Sydenham who will once again coach her at university with the Gaels.
	Barz's Take: Mykayla's raw athleticism and ceiling for potential is immense. She has represented her high school team at OFSAA and was a solid performer while playing against the best players in the province. Another local athlete, we're pleased to welcome her to Queen's this fall.

FULL LIST OF RECRUITS TO DATE:

Last Name	First Name	Hometown	Prov.	Program	Position	Height	High School
Bruce	Harlee	Lakefield	Ont.	Physical Education	Backrow/Tight 5	5'8	Lakefield Collegiate
Bellamy	Georgia	Courtenay	B.C.	Arts	Prop/Inside Centre	5'8	George's P. Vanier Secondary
Di Nardo	Jordi	Toronto	Ont.	Kinesiology	Scrum Half	5'2	Newtonbrook SS
Gani	Kara	Toronto	Ont.	Physical and Health Education	Fly Half/ Outside Centre	5'5	Greenwood College School
Garland	Katie	Peterborough	Ont.	Kinesiology	Scrum Half/Fly Half	5'8	Lakefield CS
Greenwood	Hannah	Kingston	Ont.	Physical and Health Education	Centre	5'7	Regiopolis Notre Dame
Hunt	McKinley	King City	Ont.	Concurrent Education	Prop/Lock	5'10	The Country Day School
Killacky	Lucy	Wolfville	N.S.	Science	Scrum Half/Flanker	5'5	Kings-Edgehill School
McKay	Pippi	Toronto	Ont.	Arts	Hooker	5'1	Malvern Collegiate
Refausse	Abby	Trenton	Ont.	Arts	Prop/Flanker	5'6	Trenton HS
Rumball	Dominique	Scarborough	Ont.	Science	Scrum Half	5'4	Senator O'Connor
Stephenson	Sadie	Oakville	Ont.	Arts	Centre	5'4	Oakville Trafalgar
Wilson	Mykayla	Kingston	Ont.	Arts	Prop	5'8	Sydenham HS

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// Signees // 2015 CIS Championship at Queen's

// Signees (Recruit Signing Day)

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