(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - Acadia University's department of athletics, host of the 2014 Subway AUS women's rugby championship, is proud to announce that former Axewomen rugby player and Team Canada member Andrea Burk is the championship's honorary chairperson.
Andrea Burk recently brought home a silver medal with the Canadian national women's rugby team from the recent 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup in France, where she was also named to the Women's Rugby World Cup 'dream team' at inside centre.
Andrea started playing rugby with the Capilano RFC in North Vancouver, B.C. at the age of 15 and after graduation she took her athletic endeavours to Acadia University on a soccer scholarship. Burk made the switch from soccer to rugby in her third year and was subsequently named Acadia female athlete of the year and Atlantic conference most valuable player from 2004-2006.
Burk has represented Canada as a member of both the 7s and 15s squads, earning two 7s caps and 22 15s caps.
"I am absolutely on honoured to be recognized as this year's chair of the championship," commented Burk. "The AUS competition is an important part of women's rugby development and produces some of the strongest teams in the country."
Kevin Dickie, Acadia's director of athletics and president of the AUS is thrilled by the announcement of Burk as the honorary chair. "As we complete our 175th year of Acadia University by celebrating women in sport, Andrea Burke is a leader, role model and inspiration for all student-athletes on our campus, not only young women's rugby athletes," said Dickie.
"As one of the top women's rugby players in the world, Andrea is another example that you can go from Acadia to the world-stage, and excel in doing so," he continued. "More importantly, that if you dream big, amazing things can happen in your life. Andrea is proving that both on and off the pitch. Acadia Athletics is extremely proud of Andrea Burk."
The 2014 Subway AUS women's rugby championship begins on Saturday, Oct. 25 with semi-final games played at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Acadia's Raymond Field. The championship final will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26. All games will be webcasted on AUStv at www.austv.ca.
Source: Acadia Sports Information