When the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby team stepped out to face the USA on Nov. 2, there were some fresh faces, among them Renee Gonzalez.

The University of Victoria student was making her debut CanadaB次元官网网址檚 15B次元官网网址檚 team on the wing.

It was a memorable night for the womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby program and for Gonzalez, who scored her first try for her country, helping Canada win 15-9.

B次元官网网址淚t was an unreal feeling having the support around me,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 wait to continue chasing that feeling and being with my team and having those little celebrations on the field B次元官网网址� and big celebrations too, hopefully.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: CanadaB次元官网网址檚 women 15s rugby team returns to action with tight win over U.S.

Canada made it two wins in a week over the U.S. last Friday (Nov. 5) and captured the inaugural World Rugby Pacific Four Series title with a 26-13 win.

Gonzalez, originally from Scarborough, Ont. has played four years for the UVic Vikes and said university rugby helped prepare her for stepping up to the next level.

SheB次元官网网址檚 no stranger to the national team program, however, having played for the sevens team in Vancouver earlier this year. But preparations have been made challenging by the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淪ince COVID, weB次元官网网址檝e all been training in our own environments and playing with our own teams,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o coming together and having these opportunities to collectively play at a national level, it prepares us for the World Cup and whatB次元官网网址檚 to come.B次元官网网址�

Rugby Canada as a whole has been looking to the future, after some tough results in the past year.

After the womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens team had a disappointing finish (ninth) at the Tokyo Olympics and concerns were raised about a negative culture within the program, the organization announced it would be conducting a high-performance review.

B次元官网网址淔or me being new to the program, I think itB次元官网网址檚 a very positive atmosphere, especially knowing some of the background of where the program has come from,B次元官网网址� Gonzalez said. B次元官网网址淚 think that itB次元官网网址檚 moving in the right direction.B次元官网网址�

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The WomenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby World cup, originally scheduled for New Zealand this year, was postponed to October 2022. CanadaB次元官网网址檚 previous highest finish in the competition was third. Gonzalez said the goal this time is to win gold.

Up first, however, the womens 15s head to the UK for a Nov. 14 match against world No. 1-ranked England.

bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
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