Karen Rhoda
Karen’s rugby calling began in 1978 where it spanned the ranks of player, coach and administrator during the very formative years of women’s rugby in the province of Manitoba.
In 1978 Karen played and captained the first High School girls’ team at Fort Richmond Collegiate. Other than the odd high school or tournament foray, organized women’s rugby simply did not exist in the province of Manitoba prior to 1979. That was to change when Karen (along with fellow WWAA team handball member Betty Wilson) made a decision that the development of women’s rugby in the province would be better served with the establishment of formal and regular league competition. And so, in 1979, it was the establishment of two separate and competitive women’s teams, the Wanderers Women and the Wasps Women that was to see the birth of senior women’s rugby in Manitoba.
Karen spearheaded the recruitment of players/coaches for the Wanderers Women’s Rugby team. Between 1978 and 1991 Karen played for the Wanderers Rugby Football Club where she captained the women’s team until 1989 leading them to three consecutive Women’s Provincial Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1984. In addition to her club accomplishments as a player, Karen was selected to, and captained, the Manitoba Sr. Women’s Provincial Team from 1984 to 1990. She was also selected by Canada in 1991 as a non travelling reserve player for the inaugural Women’s World Cup.
Augmenting her player accomplishments, Karen served as the Wanderers Women’s Assistant Coach between 1985 and 1986 before serving as Head Coach in 1987 and thereafter, turning her attentions to coaching at the high school level in 1988 and 1995. Playing and coaching however just didn’t seem to be enough for Karen during the early years of women’s rugby. In 1980 she served as Treasurer of the Wanderers RFC before becoming the club’s Vice President in 1986 and later Secretary in 1987. In 1984 and 1985 Karen served as Secretary of the Manitoba Rugby Union Women’s Division, and in 1985 she also served on the Western Canadian Championships Committee that was to successfully host the Women’s Championship at Maple Grove Rugby Park that year.
Player, coach, administrator; these accomplishments and Karen’s pivotal decision back in 1979 to successfully recruit players/coaches for the Wanderers Women’s Rugby team are what have come to cement her contribution of significance to the sport of rugby in Manitoba. The rest is, as it is said, history.
Karen’s rugby calling began in 1978 where it spanned the ranks of player, coach and administrator during the very formative years of women’s rugby in the province of Manitoba.
In 1978 Karen played and captained the first High School girls’ team at Fort Richmond Collegiate. Other than the odd high school or tournament foray, organized women’s rugby simply did not exist in the province of Manitoba prior to 1979. That was to change when Karen (along with fellow WWAA team handball member Betty Wilson) made a decision that the development of women’s rugby in the province would be better served with the establishment of formal and regular league competition. And so, in 1979, it was the establishment of two separate and competitive women’s teams, the Wanderers Women and the Wasps Women that was to see the birth of senior women’s rugby in Manitoba.
Karen spearheaded the recruitment of players/coaches for the Wanderers Women’s Rugby team. Between 1978 and 1991 Karen played for the Wanderers Rugby Football Club where she captained the women’s team until 1989 leading them to three consecutive Women’s Provincial Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1984. In addition to her club accomplishments as a player, Karen was selected to, and captained, the Manitoba Sr. Women’s Provincial Team from 1984 to 1990. She was also selected by Canada in 1991 as a non travelling reserve player for the inaugural Women’s World Cup.
Augmenting her player accomplishments, Karen served as the Wanderers Women’s Assistant Coach between 1985 and 1986 before serving as Head Coach in 1987 and thereafter, turning her attentions to coaching at the high school level in 1988 and 1995. Playing and coaching however just didn’t seem to be enough for Karen during the early years of women’s rugby. In 1980 she served as Treasurer of the Wanderers RFC before becoming the club’s Vice President in 1986 and later Secretary in 1987. In 1984 and 1985 Karen served as Secretary of the Manitoba Rugby Union Women’s Division, and in 1985 she also served on the Western Canadian Championships Committee that was to successfully host the Women’s Championship at Maple Grove Rugby Park that year.
Player, coach, administrator; these accomplishments and Karen’s pivotal decision back in 1979 to successfully recruit players/coaches for the Wanderers Women’s Rugby team are what have come to cement her contribution of significance to the sport of rugby in Manitoba. The rest is, as it is said, history.