KINGSTON, Ont. - Queen's women's rugby head coach
Beth Barz is pleased to announce the signing and commitment of four recruits and one transfer to the Gaels women's rugby program for 2016.
Joining Queen's for the upcoming season are outside centre/flanker
Olivia Apps (Lindsay, Ont.), flanker
Camille Irvine (Victoria), hooker/No.8
Sofie Kennedy (North Saanich, B.C.), 2nd row/back row
Anna Killacky (Wolfville, N.S.) and fullback/winger
Molly Labenski (Oakville, Ont.) who joins Queen's after completing her undergraduate degree at Acadia.
"We are thrilled to welcome our incoming Gaels for 2016," said head coach
Beth Barz. "These athletes have all made choices to be here due to academic and athletic program excellence and we look forward to having them become part of Queen's Women's Rugby. All five athletes here have shown remarkable prowess on the field which we continue to support through their time at Queen's."
The Gaels are coming off an incredible season as hosts of the CIS national championship. The Gaels finished fourth in the OUA and started as the underdog No.8 seed at the CIS championship held at Nixon Field in the heart of the Queen's campus. The Gaels pulled the upset defeating No.1 Acadia and then No.5 Concordia to earn a spot in the championship final against McMaster. The Gaels took the silver medal and a second place finish to close out a historic year and set a new team best placing.
// Signees (Recruit Signing Day)
OLIVIA APPS // OUTSIDE CENTRE/FLANKER
Awards and achievements: Captain of Senior girls rugby team at I.E.Weldon, Team MVP, I.E Weldon Most Athletic Junior Female... Rugby Ontario Junior Female player of the year and athlete and scholar 2012-2016... Rugby Ontario U16, U18, Ontario Storm 7s... Rugby Canada U18... Canada Youth Olympics 7s
CAMILLE IRVINE // FLANKER
Awards and achievements: Provincial Regional Champions U18 Tsunami (2014)...U16 Team BC 15's (2014)... Claremont Girls Rugby MVP (2014)... U18 BC Elite 7's Team... Castaway Wonderers Women's Premier League Most Improved... Vancouver 7's U18 National Champions... Las Vegas 7's U18 Elite Champions
SOFIE KENNEDY // HOOKER/No.8
Awards and achievements: Captained Stelly's Rugby 2014-2016... Starter for Team BC 15's and 7's 2014-2016... Rugby Canada U18 National Team – long list
ANNA KILLACKY // 2ND ROW/BACK ROW
Awards and achievements: Captain King's-Edgehill School 2016, Nova Scotia Keltics Academy (2014 - 2016)... Four year starter on King's-Edgehill varsity team, bronze medalists NS high-school provincials 2015... Younger sister of current women's rugby Gael
Lucy Killacky
MOLLY LABENSKI // FULLBACK/WINGER
Awards and achievements: Member of Acadia's first AUS Championship winning women's rugby team... three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian... Captain of the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils' 2012 OFSAA Gold winning team
