Eight members of the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club were named to the travelling roster for the B.C. senior women's provincial rugby team.
Head coach Pat Fleck announced the 24-player roster prior to the National Women's League Finals at Laval University in Quebec City, which began Thursday.
The B.C. roster includes four graduates off last year's provincial under-20 program as well as three additions from the u-23 provincial side that went undefeated en route to a Tier 2 national title last year.
Devon Luca of Burnaby Lake joins Meraloma Sagal Kahin and United Rugby Club products Jozie Kola and Paniz Pahlavanlu from u-20.
Former u-23 captain Jesse Olynyk of Velox will make the jump to the senior team this year, as will Sarah Byers and Christina Burnham from Simon Fraser University rugby.
The squad will be balanced with veteran leadership from 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup participants Kim Donaldson, Corinne Jacobsen and captain Julia Sugawara from Burnaby Lake, Marlene Donaldson from Velox and Brittany Waters from Meraloma.
Burnaby Lake backs Emily Young and Jocelyn Barrieau and forwards Alicia Noger and Carlolyn McEwen were also named to the team.
Of the 24 players selected, 13 participated in the women's premiership final this past May which saw the Velox Valkyries edge Burnaby Lake 20-14.
The B.C. senior women will be looking to improve on their third-place finish at the 2011 NWL finals where they fell 17-16 in the semifinals to eventual champs Alberta, before defeating Quebec 41-20 in the consolation final.
B.C. won previous national championships in 2007, '08 and 2010.
Players will be hoping to impress coaches for selection to the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup team to be hosted in France.
