Rugby Nova Scotia

Four Nova Scotian Women on latest Canada U20 Tour

Canada's U20 and U18 women's teams are sending development squads to a tournament in San Diego, California this week to uncover and expose new talent.

With Beth Barz at the helm of the U18's and Kris de Scossa leading in a coach mentoring role, coaches Jason Young and Brian Yon, these young athletes will have a chance to impress against a variety of collegiate sides at the 27th Annual Champagne Classic.

For Barz, a Kingston, Ontario area coach this will be a great chance to test different combinations and find players for the future of the program.

"The main goal of the development team is just that - to further develop the athletes in terms of the Canadian rugby mindset," said Barz. "We hope to support the provinces as they have done an excellent job with giving these athletes opportunities to prepare and compete at a high level.

"We are excited to have so many gifted, young athletes on this tour. Looking forward, these athletes have the potential to grow into some of the incredibly talented, hard-working and intelligent women who are currently members of our National Senior Women's Team."

DeScossa, who enjoys multiple roles within the women's programs, says at the U20 level the recent tour to Florida along with this opportunity will serve the team well in terms of player development.

"This tour as well as the Tampa tour is part of the Long Term Athlete identification & preparation process for 2010," said DeScossa. "These tours also provide an opportunity for coaches to be seen, ex National player Pat Fleck attended the Tampa tour and Brian Yon from Manitoba will attend this tour and be mentored for future participation.

"Other coaches, from provinces across Canada, who have volunteered or have been identified, will be asked to participate in a final identification, development & selection camp later in the year.

"Both in Tampa and San Diego we are looking to see combinations of players who normally don't play together, train and play in competition, under real time pressures. All these U20 players will then be invited to a National Camp, where a final selection will be made for a squad to play Nations Cup in August."

The teams depart on Tuesday for California

Here is the U18 team

U18 Canadian Team
Katie Baer (Waterloo County RFC)
Dakota Edwards (Brampton RFC)
Bianca Farella (Town of Mount Royal)
Sarah Guttin (Waterloo County RFC)
Nisha Howarth (Oakville Crusaders)
Logan Kennedy (Lethbridge RFC)
Lauren McEwen (Toronto Irish)
Erin Nolan (Swilers RFC)
Cassandra Orr (Lethbridge RFC)
Paniz Pahlavanlu (United RFC)
Jenn Peturson (Red Deer Titans)
Brittany Priddle (Grey Highlands SS)
Deidre Rees (Dogs RFC)
Kayla Roote (Peterborough RFC)
Carissa Rysko (Harry Ainlay SS)
Danielle Scott-Polson (Cowichan RFC)
Miranda Seifert (Athol Murray College of Notre Dame)
Janna Slevinsky (St. Albert RFC)
Ashley Snider (Waterloo RFC)
Cassy Stevens (Cowichan RFC)
Kaylie Stuckey (Saracens RFC)
Juhee Thompson (Lethbridge RFC)
Meagan Vestby (Hands RFC)
Dakota Weir (Lethbridge RFC)

Staff
Coach: Beth Barz (Kingston, ON)
Asst: Aaron McDonald (Carp, ON)
Therapist: Nicole Ainsworth (Calgary, AB)
Manager: Jessica Vincent (Toronto, ON)

The U20 Canadian Team -

Erin Beazley (Windsor, Nova Scotia) Acadia University/Valley Tide

Jennifer Brule (Kingston, Ontario) UBC/Kingston Panthers
Katie Champion (Kensington, PEI) UPEI
Teanna Chase (Sherwood Park, Alberta) University of Alberta/Strathcona Druids
Jessica Chevrier (Dunnville, Ontario) McMaster/Niagara Wasps
Katie Chu (Toronto, Ontario) Queens University/Toronto Saracens
Becky Delaney (Caledon, Ontario) McMaster/Oakville Crusaders
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, New Brunswick) St. FX/NB U19
Jenna Giuliana (Chateauguay, Quebec) Dawson College/Ormstown Saracens
Emily Goernet (Brandon, Manitoba) Brandon University/Brandon Barbarians
Lisa Grant (Surrey, BC) Johnston Heights SS/Simon Fraser University
Celeigh Harris (Lakefield, Ontario) Trent University/Peterborough Pagans
Victoria Hunter (Niagara on the Lake, Ontario) Western University/Irish Canadians

Alison Jordan (Fall River, Nova Scotia) Acadia
University/Riverlake Ramblers

Dominique Laliberte (Quebec City, Quebec) Cégep de Ste-Foy/Club de Rugby de las ville de Quebec
Leah Lawson (Barrie, Ontario) Western University/Irish Canadians
Stephanie Mackinnon (Rothsay, New Brunswick) St. FX/St John Trojans RFC

Chelsea Maguire (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) York University/Dartmouth Pig Dogs
Kelly Maguire (Darthmouth, Nova Scotia) St. Mary's University/Dartmouth Pig Dogs

Beth McNeil (North Vancouver, BC) Thompson Rivers University/Capilanos
Michelle Moore (Ladysmith, BC) Cowichan RFC
Kevenza Murphy (Vancouver, BC) University of Lethbridge/Burnaby Lake
Laura Murphy Burke (Surrey, BC) University of Lethbridge/Bayside RFC
Sumara Profit (Charlottetown, PEI) UPEI/UPEI
Kolby Ritter (Okotoks, Alberta) Mount Royal University/Calgary Irish
Tara Sliwkanich (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta) University of Alberta/St Albert RFC
Miranda Smith (Caledon, Ontario) University of Guelph/Brampton Beavers
Cara Stuckey (St Chrysostome, Quebec) Dawson College/Ormstown Saracens
Lauren Tagg (Coquitlam, BC) Simon Fraser University/Burnaby Lake

Mentor Coach: Kris de Scossa, BC
Coaches: Jason Young, BC; Brian Yon, MB
Therapists: Laura Libby, ON; Michele Brown, PQ
Manager: Penny Delaney, ON