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51��Ƶ to launch women’s varsity rugby sevens team

Jan. 9, 2025

Female student athletes will soon have a new varsity sport to play at 51��Ƶ. 

Recently approved by the , the 51��ƵGrizzlies will add a women’s varsity rugby sevens team to its roster – complimenting its three-time gold medal-winning men’s varsity rugby team.  

Student athlete recruitment will begin in February, with tryouts for an exhibition season in September. An official OCAA season will begin in September 2026.  

“A women’s rugby sevens team is a thrilling addition to Georgian’s stellar lineup of award-winning varsity teams,” said Suzie Addison-Toor, Vice President, Student Success at Georgian. “It also aligns with our commitment to foster diversity, equity and inclusion within our athletic programming, and it’s one example of our continued investment in creating unrivaled student experiences.” 

Rugby sevens is a rapidly growing Olympic sport that’s fast-paced and high-energy, with teams of seven players who play seven-minute halves, rather than the typical 15 players who play 40-minute halves.  

Georgian’s new team will be the ninth women’s rugby sevens team in the OCAA varsity league. The J.C. Massie Field at the Barrie Campus will be the team’s home field. 

The and the , both of which have a relationship with Georgian’s men’s varsity rugby team, supported Georgian’s application to OCAA to start a women’s rugby sevens team. 

“With the growth of rugby in Canada, especially for girls and women, we feel that a women’s rugby program at the postsecondary level in our region would give girls the opportunity to continue to play beyond the high school and club level,” Kelly Zacny, President of the 51��ƵBay Titans Rugby Club, wrote in a letter of support. 

The local clubs have players from under six years old to age 18, with growing interest in the sport expanding the number of teams in recent years.  

“Both Barrie and 51��ƵBay have club members who attend 51��Ƶ, and it would be great for the girls to have an opportunity to continue to play rugby close to home,” Zacny said.    

Interested in studying at 51��Ƶand playing women’s rugby sevens? Check out our 130+ programs and fill out a to get in touch with our team.