RECAP: Women’s rugby captures seventh straight medal at U SPORTS National Championship

A typically stingy defensive performance and some clinical goal line offence led the Gee-Gees women's rugby team to a bronze medal finish at the 2022 U SPORTS National Championship.

The 29-7 win over the University of Guelph represented the seventh straight season the program has reached the podium at the tournament. Dating back to 2015, Ottawa has won two silvers, four bronzes and the 2017 gold medal.

"It was a full team performance," said Gee-Gees head coach Jen Boyd. "Our bench game on around the 50-minute mark, and we actually had a few come in in the first half. We've got a lot of depth and you could tell in the second half there."

Ottawa got the scoring started with Claire Gallagher scampering in early on Guelph responded with a converted try of their own, but that would be all the scoring the OUA finalists could muster.

Talia Hennessy scored to close the first half, while Ketsia Kamba found the try zone twice. Gallagher also booted a clutch penalty.

"I wish we could have had this performance on Friday," said Boyd. "But that's sport, you're never sure what you're going to get day-to-day. I'm proud of them, it's a really great way to finish the season." 

Kamba and Gallagher were named to the tournament all-star team. Both were also honoured at the U SPORTS awards banquet earlier in the tournament, with Kamba and Gallagher earning First Team and Second Team All-Canadian status, respectively. Georgia Stewart also merited Second Team honours. 

Sunday's game represented the final showing in Garnet and Grey for a number of graduating seniors, including Gallagher, Stewart, Hennessy, Emma Wade, Sarah White and Tylo Borsboom.

"These girls are my sisters, so it meant the world to me to be able to play one last game with them," said White, who was named the Gee-Gees Player of the Game. "I would do anything just to be on the pitch again with the same 25." 

The Laval Rouge et Or won National Championship in dominant fashion over Queen's, besting the Gaels 22-5 in the final. With Laval's win, RSEQ schools have now won three of the last five championships. Ottawa and/or Laval have appeared in the national final in five of the last six seasons. The lone exception was 2018, when they battled for bronze against one another.