CANMORE — Top rugby prospect Krissy Scurfield has booked a ticket to England for one of the world’s biggest sports stages.
The 19-year-old from Canmore was named to Rugby Canada’s women's sevens roster that will compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July 28 to Aug. 8.
In what’s been a banner year for one of the sport’s top young talents, Scurfield said she’s been able to reflect this summer on the upcoming Commonwealth Games selection and a few other big rugby accomplishments.
“It’s been a blur a little bit just because I’ve been in full training mode,” said Scurfield. “It’s definitely nice to sit back and realize a lot of my hard work is finally paying off. Definitely proud of myself.”
Canada qualified for the Commonwealth Games after pulverizing the competition at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) last April in The Bahamas, outscoring opponents 257-0 in five games.
RAN was part of Scurfield’s remarkable rookie season with the sevens squad after being called up from the developmental Maple Leaf Academy. Playing either at centre or wing – the sprinters of an already up-tempo game – Scurfield was nominated twice for the World Rugby Series’ Dream Team last season and was the only Canadian woman named to one.
The lightning bolt on the pitch led her team with eight tries, despite playing 17 matches out of a possible 34.
The ex-hockey player also threw opponents down to the dirt 20 times last season, including a couple of extraordinary try-denying chase downs she had no business making. One tackle, in particular, stands out when Scurfield hauled down 2020 Olympic gold medallist Michaela Blyde of New Zealand just before the try line after the Kiwi was all but gone on a clean break last May in Toulouse, France. Blyde is a professional scorer and third all-time in touching the ball down in women’s sevens.
“Wingers always get a lot of recognition just because we’re usually the ones who put the ball down on the try zone, but I feel like a lot of the work is really done by the inside players,” Scurfield said.
Returning to her roots this off-season, Scurfield paid a visit to a Banff Bears rugby girls practice in May. She played two seasons with the team in Grade 9 and 10.
“I basically just told them that I came from where all those guys came from, so if you put in the time and effort you can really go anywhere,” said Scurfield. “It doesn’t matter how small your home club is, it’s just about hard work.”
As a long time student-athlete, including now with the University of Victoria, Scurfield is accustomed to a busy schedule.
As her sophomore year approaches, Scurfield’s aims to have more consistency in her game and become part of the core of the sevens squad.
Her warm-up is at the Commonwealth Games. A total of 72 countries and territories are expected to be represented, including Australia, England, India, South Africa, and Pakistan.
“I’m super excited not only for the rugby, but because it’s such a giant multi-sport event,” she said. “I haven’t ever been to an event this big, just watching, so I’m just really excited about the experience, in general.”
Canada's women's head coach Jack Hanratty it's an honour to represent the nation at the Commonwealth Games.
“We go there with a real hunger to make it into the medal rounds," said Hanratty in a press release. "This new, young squad want to show they have what it takes to perform.”
