Women's Rugby
For Souris, P.E.I native Marley MacInnis, the chance to be a UPEI Panther with the women’s rugby team wasn’t what brought her to the university, but it may be what kept her there.
“I decided to go to UPEI because a lot of my friends were going there and I would still be close to my family as well,” said MacInnis. “I knew that I didn’t want to be too far away from home for my first year of university, but thought that might change after a year or two.”
Unlike many student-athletes, the psychology student didn’t begin playing rugby at UPEI right away. “After almost two years off, I decided to try out for the UPEI team when I was starting my third year there.”
It was no easy feat. “Trying out for the team was pretty nerve-wracking,” recalled MacInnis. “Training camp included three days of two-a-day (practices), which was new to me and very intimidating.”
“It was invigorating though, to work hard and then to have it pay off when I made the team,” she said. “The coaches and my teammates are a really great group of women, so I felt at home pretty quickly.”
And with that, MacInnis’s career as a Panther began, and the choice to remain at UPEI for the duration of her university years was solidified.
“After I decided to play rugby, there was no way I was going anywhere else,” said the eight man. “Playing on a varsity team gave me even more Panther pride and made me feel like I was part of a family.”
MacInnis’s rugby career first began in the ninth grade at Souris Regional High School. The summer before her tryouts with the Panthers, she had decided to resume playing rugby after a two-year hiatus and played for the P.E.I. provincial team.
“We won the gold medal for the U20 division,” she recalled. “It reminded me of how much I loved playing rugby.”
MacInnis’s passion for the sport is clear. “There’s something thrilling about using the right technique to stop an opposing player from scoring a try, or clearing a ruck, or making a pass that leads to gaining ground on the field, being able to take a hit and get right back up into the game and just fighting your way up the field as a team,” she said.
“I think because of the physical aspect of rugby, players really feel the need to protect their teammates and it feels amazing to go and support your teammates and receive support from them,” said MacInnis. “I think it brings the team closer together and that’s why it feels like a family.”
She has proven to be a valuable asset for the Panthers, being named an AUS all-star in the 2012 season.
The 23-year-old hopes to continue her education by entering either a speech and language pathology or an occupational therapy program.
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Getting to know Marley MacInnis…
What has been your most memorable moment playing for UPEI so far?
“I think it would have to be the first year that I played, when we cracked the CIS Top 10 list. That was pretty exciting for us as a team. I was so happy to have joined the team and to have been able to be a part of that success.”
Share a bit about your life outside of school and sports. What do you like to do for fun?
“I like to spend time with family and friends. They’re the most important thing to me.”
What do you think or hope you are best known for off the field?
“I think I’m known as outgoing and someone who likes to have fun and crack jokes.”