1996 Manitoba U-19 Junior Women’s Provincial Team
In 1996 Maple Grove Rugby Park hosted the Western Canada Women’s Championship, the first major Junior Women’s competition to be held there. Drawing teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, the local rugby community came together to put on an outstanding event for players and spectators alike. The community’s support was well rewarded when the Manitoba side won the Gold Medal in the final game against B.C.
The Team held two intense four hour try-out sessions in May and early June to prepare for the July games. Over seventy players were scouted and invited to attend, trying out for a roster of twenty-four spots. Included in the final selections were two 15-year old players, Jody Shawn and Marsha Kindzierski, chosen for their impressive and hard-hitting try-out performances. Although Rugby Canada ultimately denied their exemption to participate as underage players, they were kept as non-playing members of the team.
Lead by Coaches Scott Harland and Bill Bien, Manager Tannis Nicol and Trainer Paul Haskins, the team roster (listed alphabetically included): Melissa Antonsen, Tanya Bailey, Amanda Brown, Tauna Craik, Danielle Dalton, Lindsay Dandeneau, Colleen Dzogan, Jamie Friesen, Christina Gajdosik, Jill Henselwood, Adeline Huynh, Kylie Inglis, Marsha Kindzierski, Molly Kirk (co-Captain), Krissy Kloss, Carol Kullman, Amanda Kury, Amanda Martenson, Holly McBride, Shannon Nesbitt, Heather Nuytten, Andrea Orthodoxou, Donna Peters, Jody Shawn, Heather Southam (co-Captain) and Candice Szezepanski
Previous Western Women’s Championships had featured only teams from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, with Manitoba placing second to a strong Alberta side in the previous year’s tournament. 1996 marked the first year that a B.C. side was participating in the Junior Women’s level, having already become a dominant force in Senior Women’s Rugby in Canada.
Manitoba’s team trained by playing several games against Senior Clubs, and the roster contained many players already involved in Club rugby. Their efforts were rewarded on July 14th when they faced B.C. in the final match and overcame them with disciplined defence, superior rucking skills, and effective teamwork. The Manitoba side denied their opponents a single try despite constant pressure, defeating them in an 8-3 Championship match in which the Winnipeg Free Press cited “Prairie Defence” as being the “hallmark” of the team’s success.
In addition to becoming the Western Canadian Champions, the 1996 Manitoba U-19 Junior Women’s Provincial Team accomplished it on home soil. By bringing home the Gold to the delight of spectators and organizers they created an unforgettable moment of local rugby history, demonstrating that Manitoba was a contender in the Western Provinces.
In the years following their Championship win, four players were invited to National selection camps. All but three of the players went on to play Senior Club Rugby. Ten players went on to play for the Senior Women’s Provincial Team, and eight have become coaches.
The members of the 1996 U-19 Junior Women’s Provincial Rugby Team have been and continue to be a driving force in Women’s Rugby in the Province of Manitoba.
In 1996 Maple Grove Rugby Park hosted the Western Canada Women’s Championship, the first major Junior Women’s competition to be held there. Drawing teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, the local rugby community came together to put on an outstanding event for players and spectators alike. The community’s support was well rewarded when the Manitoba side won the Gold Medal in the final game against B.C.
The Team held two intense four hour try-out sessions in May and early June to prepare for the July games. Over seventy players were scouted and invited to attend, trying out for a roster of twenty-four spots. Included in the final selections were two 15-year old players, Jody Shawn and Marsha Kindzierski, chosen for their impressive and hard-hitting try-out performances. Although Rugby Canada ultimately denied their exemption to participate as underage players, they were kept as non-playing members of the team.
Lead by Coaches Scott Harland and Bill Bien, Manager Tannis Nicol and Trainer Paul Haskins, the team roster (listed alphabetically included): Melissa Antonsen, Tanya Bailey, Amanda Brown, Tauna Craik, Danielle Dalton, Lindsay Dandeneau, Colleen Dzogan, Jamie Friesen, Christina Gajdosik, Jill Henselwood, Adeline Huynh, Kylie Inglis, Marsha Kindzierski, Molly Kirk (co-Captain), Krissy Kloss, Carol Kullman, Amanda Kury, Amanda Martenson, Holly McBride, Shannon Nesbitt, Heather Nuytten, Andrea Orthodoxou, Donna Peters, Jody Shawn, Heather Southam (co-Captain) and Candice Szezepanski
Previous Western Women’s Championships had featured only teams from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, with Manitoba placing second to a strong Alberta side in the previous year’s tournament. 1996 marked the first year that a B.C. side was participating in the Junior Women’s level, having already become a dominant force in Senior Women’s Rugby in Canada.
Manitoba’s team trained by playing several games against Senior Clubs, and the roster contained many players already involved in Club rugby. Their efforts were rewarded on July 14th when they faced B.C. in the final match and overcame them with disciplined defence, superior rucking skills, and effective teamwork. The Manitoba side denied their opponents a single try despite constant pressure, defeating them in an 8-3 Championship match in which the Winnipeg Free Press cited “Prairie Defence” as being the “hallmark” of the team’s success.
In addition to becoming the Western Canadian Champions, the 1996 Manitoba U-19 Junior Women’s Provincial Team accomplished it on home soil. By bringing home the Gold to the delight of spectators and organizers they created an unforgettable moment of local rugby history, demonstrating that Manitoba was a contender in the Western Provinces.
In the years following their Championship win, four players were invited to National selection camps. All but three of the players went on to play Senior Club Rugby. Ten players went on to play for the Senior Women’s Provincial Team, and eight have become coaches.
The members of the 1996 U-19 Junior Women’s Provincial Rugby Team have been and continue to be a driving force in Women’s Rugby in the Province of Manitoba.