Your Support Matters
The primary goal of the Women’s Rugby program is to provide the best student-athlete experience both on and off the field. We work to create a positive and inclusive culture that focuses on developing the student as an athlete, a scholar and a member of the community. Our aim is that the young women that are part of our program today, will go on to be great leaders tomorrow. Your support will have a direct impact on their success as student-athletes and on the program.
The University of Guelph provides Women’s Rugby with base funding from the Department of Athletics, covering costs such as league fees, officiating and travel. To provide the athletes with a full-year training environment, we rely upon student-athlete fees and fundraising to meet the rest of our program needs. This is necessary to compete with the full-time programs at Queens, Ottawa, Laval and the CanWest universities. To minimize the financial burden on our student-athletes, Women’s Rugby has set a goal to raise $10,00 annually to offset costs that are essential to the success of our program.
Make an Impact
You are so important to the success of the Women’s Rugby program! Your donation will be used for:
- Purchase balls, tackle pads, analytic and skill equipment for incoming players ($5,000)
- Provide pre and post-game team meals while on the road ($500),
- Support registration, travel costs and accommodation for the Rugby 7’s season and National 7’s Championship ($3,000),
- Purchase travel recovery equipment such as ice baths and massage guns (approximately $1,500).
About Women’s Rugby – 2023
The Gryphon Women’s Rugby team has a long history of success. Established in 1994, Coach Wayne Stobie and the team were undefeated for 2 straight years. Jim Atkinson took over the program in 1996 and continued the dynasty for 10 years; winning the first ever National Championship in 1998. Colette McAuley has held the position of head coach since 2007.
The team won its second National title in 2011, has captured a total of 8 USports medals, has 18 Provincial Championships to its credit and has never finished below 3rd place. Both the 1994 and 1998 teams have been inducted into the Guelph Gryphon Hall of Fame and over 500 Gryphons, coaches and staff are alumni of the program.
Each year, the team’s competitive goal is to win the USports National Championship. Qualifying for the national championship tournament requires the team to finish the regular season in the top two in the OUA. Having only ever missed the National Championship twice, the goal is to finish first in the OUA, earning the top Ontario spot for Nationals at Laval University in 2023.
For more information about the program or questions about supporting the team, contact:
Sam Kosakowski – Alumni Advancement Manager, Athletics
skosakow@uoguelph.ca
519.824.4120 Ext. 58463
