Mandy Marchak found Rugby by accident, through injury. While at Grant Park High School in Grade 11, she suffered a back injury which forced her into a brace, thus missing out on the Provincial Track Championship’s that year. Upon recovery she decided she would enjoy her final year of High School and participate in whatever sports she could. Rugby turned out to be one of those sports.
This was the only year in which she played High School Rugby and she excelled, and along with the rest of her team mates, won the Women’s High School Championship that year in 2000.
Club Rugby followed and she immediately joined the Wanderers RFC Senior Women. Mandy played for the Wanderers until 2004 and was involved in several Provincial finals, with the Women winning in 2004. On Oct. 04, two days after that Provincial final victory, Mandy moved to BC and North Vancouver to play with the Capilanos RFC. An integral part of the Capilanos WRFC from 2004 to 2009, Mandy garnered national attention and in her final year was named the CDI BC Women’s Premier League Player of the Year.
Fully part of the Canadian Women’s program, Mandy chose to move to England in 2009 to play in that country’s Women’s Premier League with the Saracens Women RFC. Here she thrived over the next 3 years playing against some of the best Rugby players in the world, and was asked to play with many representative sides including the Wooden Spoons and the Moody Cows
Mandy’s International career started in 2002 with her selection to the Cananda U-19, 15s program and in 2004 along with a number of other girls became part of Canada’s first U-23 Women’s program centered in Edmonton. Many players from this initial program continue to play to this day, the program laying the foundation for the Canadian Sr. Women’s teams of the future.
Selected to her first 15s World Cup in 2006, Mandy was chosen to start Canada’s first game against New Zealand at fullback. Injuring her Quad in the first half, she was sidelined for the rest of the tournament until the 3rd versus 4th place game against France as a reserve. In the 2010 World Cup in England, Mandy was selected at outside center and played in all of Canada’s games, the team finishing in 6th place following a loss to the USA. Under a new coach, Mandy was chosen in 2014 for her third World Cup in France playing all the games again at out-side center. The squad played some magnificent Rugby and made it to the final against England following a victory over hometown favorite France. The final was an epic battle between two great teams with Canada falling to England and finishing in 2nd place, their highest ever placing in a Women’s 15s World Cup.
While playing 15s, Mandy got involved in the grassroots of the Canadian Women’s 7s program in 2007. In 2008 the Women played in their first World Cup qualifier in the Bahamas defeating the USA for a spot at the 2009 7s World Cup in Dubai. This was Mandy’s first 7s World Cup and with the rest of the ladies they played well throughout the tournament, losing to England in the 3rd versus 4th place game. Mandy continued with the 7s program as it grew in popularity. In 2011 Mandy was chosen Captain of Canada’s Women’s 7s team and over the next year the team went undefeated and won four tournaments; Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and the Dubai (Challenge Cup), the pre-cursor to the HSBC Women’s 7s. Mandy continued with the 7s program playing prop and was a relentless force to be reckoned with in every game and tournament she played. Selections for the 2013 7s World Cup in Russia resulted in Mandy being chosen for her 2nd appearance. The ladies played exceptionally well and made it to the finals to play New Zealand on a water logged field. The ladies fought admirably but finish 2nd, yet another milestone however, for the Canadian Women’s 7s Program.
With Rugby 7s admitted in 2009 into the 2016 Rio Olympics, it would be trying times for many of Canada’s outstanding and experienced 2013 squad to remain healthy over the course of the next three years in a highly competitive international environment. Following shoulder surgery in 2013 and with the Olympics drawing nearer, Mandy began to experience back problems and in April of 2016 after suffering recurring numbness in her right leg, made the tough decision to call it a day on her 7s career and her Olympic aspirations. The true team mate that she is, she made the journey down to Rio to cheer the Canadian Women on to a Bronze Medal.
Mandy has had a long and fulfilling Club and International Rugby career spanning 16 years and has been known as one of the best players in the World. Through the years she has met and made lifelong friends, traveled the world over, contributed back to the Rugby community and been a role model to the next generation of Women’s Rugby; and to say the least, a very deserving candidate for induction to the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame.
Mandy Marchak:
43 Women’s 15s International Caps
17 Women’s 7s International Caps
CDI BC Women’s Premier League Player of the Year 2008-2009
Canada Women’s 7s Captain 2011-2012 (4 Tournament Victories; Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Dubai)
Silver Medal 2014 Women’s 15s World Cup France
Silver Medal 2013 Women’s 7s World Cup Russia
This was the only year in which she played High School Rugby and she excelled, and along with the rest of her team mates, won the Women’s High School Championship that year in 2000.
Club Rugby followed and she immediately joined the Wanderers RFC Senior Women. Mandy played for the Wanderers until 2004 and was involved in several Provincial finals, with the Women winning in 2004. On Oct. 04, two days after that Provincial final victory, Mandy moved to BC and North Vancouver to play with the Capilanos RFC. An integral part of the Capilanos WRFC from 2004 to 2009, Mandy garnered national attention and in her final year was named the CDI BC Women’s Premier League Player of the Year.
Fully part of the Canadian Women’s program, Mandy chose to move to England in 2009 to play in that country’s Women’s Premier League with the Saracens Women RFC. Here she thrived over the next 3 years playing against some of the best Rugby players in the world, and was asked to play with many representative sides including the Wooden Spoons and the Moody Cows
Mandy’s International career started in 2002 with her selection to the Cananda U-19, 15s program and in 2004 along with a number of other girls became part of Canada’s first U-23 Women’s program centered in Edmonton. Many players from this initial program continue to play to this day, the program laying the foundation for the Canadian Sr. Women’s teams of the future.
Selected to her first 15s World Cup in 2006, Mandy was chosen to start Canada’s first game against New Zealand at fullback. Injuring her Quad in the first half, she was sidelined for the rest of the tournament until the 3rd versus 4th place game against France as a reserve. In the 2010 World Cup in England, Mandy was selected at outside center and played in all of Canada’s games, the team finishing in 6th place following a loss to the USA. Under a new coach, Mandy was chosen in 2014 for her third World Cup in France playing all the games again at out-side center. The squad played some magnificent Rugby and made it to the final against England following a victory over hometown favorite France. The final was an epic battle between two great teams with Canada falling to England and finishing in 2nd place, their highest ever placing in a Women’s 15s World Cup.
While playing 15s, Mandy got involved in the grassroots of the Canadian Women’s 7s program in 2007. In 2008 the Women played in their first World Cup qualifier in the Bahamas defeating the USA for a spot at the 2009 7s World Cup in Dubai. This was Mandy’s first 7s World Cup and with the rest of the ladies they played well throughout the tournament, losing to England in the 3rd versus 4th place game. Mandy continued with the 7s program as it grew in popularity. In 2011 Mandy was chosen Captain of Canada’s Women’s 7s team and over the next year the team went undefeated and won four tournaments; Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and the Dubai (Challenge Cup), the pre-cursor to the HSBC Women’s 7s. Mandy continued with the 7s program playing prop and was a relentless force to be reckoned with in every game and tournament she played. Selections for the 2013 7s World Cup in Russia resulted in Mandy being chosen for her 2nd appearance. The ladies played exceptionally well and made it to the finals to play New Zealand on a water logged field. The ladies fought admirably but finish 2nd, yet another milestone however, for the Canadian Women’s 7s Program.
With Rugby 7s admitted in 2009 into the 2016 Rio Olympics, it would be trying times for many of Canada’s outstanding and experienced 2013 squad to remain healthy over the course of the next three years in a highly competitive international environment. Following shoulder surgery in 2013 and with the Olympics drawing nearer, Mandy began to experience back problems and in April of 2016 after suffering recurring numbness in her right leg, made the tough decision to call it a day on her 7s career and her Olympic aspirations. The true team mate that she is, she made the journey down to Rio to cheer the Canadian Women on to a Bronze Medal.
Mandy has had a long and fulfilling Club and International Rugby career spanning 16 years and has been known as one of the best players in the World. Through the years she has met and made lifelong friends, traveled the world over, contributed back to the Rugby community and been a role model to the next generation of Women’s Rugby; and to say the least, a very deserving candidate for induction to the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame.
Mandy Marchak:
43 Women’s 15s International Caps
17 Women’s 7s International Caps
CDI BC Women’s Premier League Player of the Year 2008-2009
Canada Women’s 7s Captain 2011-2012 (4 Tournament Victories; Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Dubai)
Silver Medal 2014 Women’s 15s World Cup France
Silver Medal 2013 Women’s 7s World Cup Russia