Head coach Pat Fleck will field a mostly Burnaby lineup in the upcoming National Womens League rugby finals.
Team B.C. will be represented by eight players from the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club and another five women from Simon Fraser University at the league finals at the University of British Columbia from June 27 to 30.
The 24-member B.C. senior women team will be competing in the Premier Division against Tier One sides Alberta, Quebec and defending national champions Ontario.
B.C. will field a team in the under-20 division and will go up against Ontario and Alberta. This year's NWL competition will also feature a Tier 2 senior women's division with representation from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Atlantic region and a Quebec development side.
The NWL finals are the premier domestic competition for women's rugby in Canada, run annually and seen as a vital step on the pathway for aspiring national team players.
Fleck returns for his second year at the helm of the senior women's provincial program and will have plenty of experience having also served as an assistant coach when B.C. last hosted the NWL Finals in 2011. The 2012 tournament saw B.C. advance to the national final, where they fell 26-12 to the Ontario Storm.
"Preparations started back in March and have been steadily building. It's definitely nice not having to worry about flights, accommodation and time zone changes, and hopefully we can use that to our advantage," Fleck said. "We have many small goal markers but obviously our overall goal is to reclaim the national title by winning the tournament."
Fleck's side will be captained by Burnaby Lake veteran Julia Sugawara. Sugawara has represented Canada at Rugby World Cups and this past May led her club side to a Gordon Harris Memorial Cup provincial title in a pulsating 17-13 championship victory over the Velox Valkyries.
"We have a good mix of experienced players as well as some young, skillful talent," Fleck added. "Every player on the field will need to step up and perform for us to be successful."
Returning from the 2012 side are Christina Burnham and Sarah Byers from Simon Fraser University, Jessica Dovanne and Marlene Donaldson of the Velox Valkyries, Hilary Leith from Saracens/Capilano and Kim Donaldson, Carolyn McEwen and Emily Young from Burnaby Lake.
National team veterans Andrea Burk of Capilano RFC and Barbara Mervin from Velox also return to the fold this year, having previously represented B.C. prior to the 2012 national tournament.
Fleck will also be relying on the younger players to step up, including B.C. under-23 provincial team graduate Demi Stamatakis. The SFU standout was a key member of Vancouver's rep side during the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup and will be a dynamic asset through her ability to play both in the front row and in the back line.
B.C. will open their campaign against 2011 national champions Alberta on June 27 at UBC's Wolfson Field. On Friday, June 28, the squad will play Quebec and then on Sunday will square off against top-seeded Ontario.
For more information on the National Women's League Finals visit www.nwlrugby.com
BC Sr Women Premier Schedule:
Thurs. June 27, 1:30pm: B.C. vs Alberta (Wolfson Fields, UBC)
Fri. June 28, 1:30pm: B.C. vs Quebec (Wolfson Fields, UBC)
Sun. June 30, 12:30pm: B.C. vs Ontario (Wolfson Fields, UBC)
BC results at NWL Finals:
2012 Runners-up
2011 Third place
2010 National champions
2009 Runners-up
2008 National champions
2007 National champions
BC Senior Women Roster:
Lynzi Anderson (Velox Valkyries)
Marie-Eve Brindamour-Carignan (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
Andrea Burk (Capilano RFC)
Christina Burnham (Simon Fraser University Rugby)
Sarah Byers (Simon Fraser University Rugby)
Laura Crowe-Hutchon (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
Kim Donaldson (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
Jessica Dovanne (Velox Valkyries)
Marlene Donaldson (Velox Valkyries)
Jessica Firman (Simon Fraser University Rugby)
Haley Glendinning (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
Tanya Leigh (Bayside Athletic Association)
Hilary Leith (Saracens RFC / Capilano RFC)
Carolyn McEwen (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
Selina McGinnis (Velox Valkyries)
Barbara Mervin (Velox Valkyries)
Britta Peterson (Nanaimo Hornets RFC)
Maggie Ritchie (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
Brittany Sims (Velox Valkyries)
Courtney Sims (Velox Valkyries)
Demi Stamatakis (Simon Fraser University Rugby)
Julia Sugawara © (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
December Turcato-Woodward (Simon Fraser University Rugby)
Emily Young (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club)
