Season Preview: Gee-Gees women’s rugby on the hunt for another dominant season

The Gee-Gees finished the 2023 season with a RSEQ conference title, and a sixth-place finish at the U SPORTS National Championship. This year, the team is eyeing another dominant season, starting with a battle on home turf.

On Aug. 31, the 2024 regular season kicks off at 3:30 PM against the Montreal Carabins. Ottawa and Montreal met once during the 2023 regular season, where the Gee-Gees came out with a 36-21 victory on the road.  

The second matchup is likely to be the biggest challenge on the Gee-Gees' six game schedule. They hit the road on Sept. 8 to face their biggest RSEQ rival, the reigning national champions, the Laval Rouge et Or.

The Gee-Gees fell in a tight matchup with Rouge et Or to start the 2023 season but went on to reclaim victory on a bigger stage, defeating Laval in the RSEQ Championship game. Despite the conference loss, Laval went on a run at the National Championship tournament, earning the U SPORTS title.

Following the two opening games, the team hosts Concordia to kick off a packed week that includes a mid-week matchup against the Carleton Ravens on Sep. 18. The Gee-Gees host Bishop's before closing the season on road against McGill on Oct. 5. Playoffs are slated to begin on Oct. 12, with the RSEQ championship game set for Oct. 19. The 2024-25 U SPORTS Championship will be at UPEI on Oct. 30-Nov. 3.

"That busy week is going to test our physical and mental endurance, we have the right group to work through that," said Gee-Gees head coach, Duncan McNaughton. "Montreal is always a physical, well-coached team. They're going to bring a lot of energy, it'll be awesome to get started at home."

McNaughton returns for a second season, joined by assistant coach Dave Butcher. The two will be holding down the fort before the arrival of incoming Head Coach Jack Hanratty, who just coached Canada Rugby to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  

While the Gee-Gees said goodbye to Captain and RSEQ All-Star, Sarah White, the team hangs on to an impressive core made up of three First Team All-Canadians, Ketsia Kamba, Ngozi Mosindi, and Tylo Borsboom.

Rookie Gee-Gee, Fiona Day, joins the Ottawa squad after participating the Rugby Canada Women's U18 East Training camp.

Day was not the only player to gain Rugby Canada experience over the summer. Aurora Bowie and Borsboom were selected to compete in two matches against Spain. Borsboom later participated in the Rugby Canada 7s development camp. Third-year centre, Ella Blyth was named to the U20 roster that competed in July.

McNaughton and Butcher each bring national level coaching experience to the Gee-Gees as well.

"It speaks volumes to our program to have athletes and coaches at that level wanting to be a part of it," McNaughton said.

Tickets for all Gee-Gees home games, including the home opener on Aug. 31 against Montreal are available for purchase HERE.