The Banff women’s rugby team is back from the dead, and this time, they’re younger and hungrier.
After a three-year hiatus, the women of Banff rugby took to the field on Saturday (June 28) in an effort to rejuvenate the sport in the shadow of Rundle Mountain.
Back are familiar faces Stephanie Fox, Laura Bowie and Wendy Kuiper, but alongside them are an eager bunch of former Banff Community High School players keen to play competitive rugby across the province.
The return to action is the brainchild of Lianne Pettigrew, who began her rugby career at BCHS before moving to the University of Calgary team. Pettigrew wanted a place to continue playing rugby in Banff for the summer, and found enough interested women to field a team. Low player turnout plagued the team for years, however, there is a young nucleus now dedicated to keeping the sport alive.
Signed up for a shortened six-game exhibition schedule, the team attracted 14 players for its first match in two years at the Banff Rec Grounds, where the Calgary Hornets clobbered them by an unmentionable score. But the veterans stayed positive and the rookies gained valuable experience and are ready for more action this summer.
Former University of Toronto player Fox said it’s an honour to play rugby in Banff and she wants the team to stick around for many years to come.
“It’s always a pleasure and I take great pride to play on this team. It’s a pleasure to be back,” Fox said.
The scrum half kept the team’s attitude positive through its first tough match, and kept the focus on hard work and good habits.
“The girls put in a great effort with a positive attitude. I’m impressed with the girls’ ability to recognize mistakes and improve on them. We improved drastically from the first half to the second,” Fox said.
Several BCHS students suited up for the team, and they are encouraging more players to try out for the team. No experience is necessary and practice occurs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. at the Banff Rec Grounds.
