HALIFAX, NS (Sept. 5, 2024) – There is no denying the STFX X-Women have dominated Atlantic University Sport (AUS) rugby, but is change coming?
Since it became a fully sanctioned AUS sport in 2002, STFX has won 19 of 21 titles, including an amazing 13 straight from 2002-2014. Just last year, however, The X-Women prevented UPEI from going back-to-back as champs when they narrowly defeated the top-ranked Panthers 26-22 in the AUS championship final.
“Our league has grown in quality and depth in the last 10 years,” said X-Women head coach, Mike Cavanagh. “Rugby has really taken off in the Maritime provinces and is producing more and more quality players every year.”
In a recent poll of AUS head coaches, STFX earned three first place votes with the Acadia Axewomen garnering one. And while pre-season praise is nice, Cavanagh knows Acadia, UPEI and Saint Mary’s won’t just hand them another AUS banner.
“We’ve had a very good pre-season and are very healthy. The team put in a lot of hard work over the summer, and it has allowed use to start the season running and ready to go,” he said. “We want to continue to improve on the defensive side of the game which we hope will create opportunities to counterattack and move the ball around.”
The Panthers will not only try to regain the AUS title they won in 2023, but will act as hosts to the country’s best when the U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship comes to Prince Edward Island from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.
"We're all incredibly excited. It's an honour to host this tournament at home, especially with our fans cheering us on," said Panthers captain Emma MacLean in a season preview written by Thomas Becker and posted on the UPEI Panthers website. "The past two hosts set a high bar with the experiences they created, and we're hoping to do the same here at UPEI."
Until Oct. 30 gets here, though, the Panthers will focus on making up for what they considered a misstep last season.
"Last season's championship game left us with a bitter taste in our mouths," added second row, Abbey Morice, in the preview. "As Coach (James) Voye says, it's in the 'rearview,' but we have to use it as motivation to push even harder."
Saturday’s curtain raiser will see STFX travel to Halifax to take on the Saint Mary’s Huskies, while Acadia heads to UPEI. Both games are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.