Recognizing the growing interest in women’s rugby, the Castaway Wanderers Rugby Union Football Club announced it will field a senior women’s team for the coming 2015/2016 season.
“The launch of a senior women’s program at Castaway Wanderers has been a key priority for the club over the past few years,” club president Don Swainson said. “At CW we have always prided ourselves as being an all-inclusive club, and with the huge increase of girls adopting the sport, we are really excited to now offer a player pathway for our female athletes from under-eight all the way to senior women.”
With Canada’s national women’s team winning a silver medal at last year’s IRB Women’s World Cup of Rugby and the introduction of Women’s 7s as an Olympic sport, it was good timing for CW to launch a women’s program.
The Castaway Wanderers have introduced Jess Dovanne as head coach, Julian Canet as assistant coach and Natasha Schigas as director of women’s rugby. The three join the current girl’s youth coaching ranks of Anna Wray, Megan Gibbs and Jenna Hodgson.
“It’s an absolute thrill to finally see the launch of our senior women’s team after all the hard work that has gone into reaching this milestone,” said David Crossley, executive director of women’s and girl’s rugby at Castaway Wanderers. “I am equally thrilled about the quality of people who will lead the program and can’t wait for the first game, which will be a very special moment for the club.”
Competition will begin this summer with 7s play as Castaway Wanderers intends to enter a number of 7s tournaments around the province with 15s competition commencing in the fall.
Castaway Wanderers encourages anyone interested to come out and try the sport. Interested players can contact Natasha Schigas at nschigas@gmail.com.