Hall of Fame Profile: Simone Savary

Simone Savary was the first Gee-Gees women's rugby player to be named to the All-Canadian team twice. Her excellence in the tight five was a crucial element in the team's first three RSEQ Championship wins, and her inspirational play helped carry the Garnet and Grey to its first ever national championship appearance.

Savary was selected as a member of the inaugural induction class for the Gee-Gees women's rugby Hall of Fame, alongside Natasha Watcham-Roy and the 2017 Team. To register to attend the event, which will be held following the Gee-Gees women's rugby match against Bishop's on September 21, please visit this link. 

This history-making player was a last minute addition to the 2012 team. As she puts it, "I had no expectations. I just knew I was really competitive, and I had been doing well with the Ontario provincial team. I think that was one of the moments where realized: I think I can do more with this and I want to do more."

"So I was really excited, really competitive to kind of come in and try and snag a starting spot and little did I know I'd be five years playing."

Savary established herself right away, earning an RSEQ All-Star recognition in her rookie season. Her contributions included at least three tries* and notable performances against the top teams in the conference. Her dynamic playing style would only grow from there with greater coaching and attention.

"My position is number one or number three, which is a prop and they're known for being a powerhouse," explains Savary. "You're supposed to bulldoze over people, which I still can do. But I think how I describe it, I'm very calm and I'm very adaptable. So even though I'm supposed to be in this power position, I can instantly switch to running circles or really dynamic cutting."

"I think people don't expect that of me and I can be just as fast as some of the players on the other side, so they get real confused when they see me on the field and I'm the one who's doing all the running," Savary chuckles as she explains her effectiveness.

All told, Savary is credited with at least* 120 career points, which ranks third in program history, including 10 tries in the 2015 season and 8 tries in the 2016 season.

Savary's third year, 2014, was a breakthrough year for the Gee-Gees. The team was 7-0 in regular season play and captured its first RSEQ conference championship. Savary was instrumental to the team's defensive mindset, best illustrated in the 13-5 victory over Concordia in the conference final, but dominant all season long as the Garnet and Grey allowed just 50 regular season points against over seven games played.

Another key milestone victory was a 15-14 win over Laval. "Every year there is one team always gets on my nerves because it's going to be a nail biter, and that's Laval," says Savary.

"Every game we played against them back then was between like one score away. You really didn't know who was going to win, and we just knew that the week of Laval, our bodies are going to be put on the line to overtime or the last minute and more. The Laval team is unbelievable – a really great group of ladies."

Having won the RSEQ conference, the 2014 team qualified for the national championship tournament for the first time (other than as hosts, which Ottawa had previously been in 2001), and earned a crucial quarterfinal victory over the hosts. 

"I think it was a long time coming. I said my first year we were hungry for more. So when we actually got there, it was nice to have the validation and recognition. Upsetting the hosts was a pivotal moment because it was nice to build confidence around that moment, moving years forward. It showed us 'We can do this. Let's see what we can do next.'" 

Learning what they were capable as a team and individually was an important part of Savary's time with the Gee-Gees. She credits then assistant coach Duncan McNaugton and team mate and current Senior National Team member Alex Ellis with lifting her up in particular. 

"Duncan McNaughton was a huge part of my success and continuing career. We had this great coach-player partnership where we were seen as equals. We discussed things at length. I gave him advice, he gave me advice. And lots of feedback. He really just brought a positive light into my life and kind of propelled me forward and into the person I am today, giving me the tools to be more independent, questioning things I hadn't before and just giving me the confidence. 

"He would say 'Why? Why can't you do that Simone?' And I would think, 'Oh yeah. You're right. Why can't I?'"

"I probably couldn't have done it without her [Alex Ellis]. We had a really good competitive spirit, but also off the field we can put rugby aside and just be there for one another as friends. So I really owe a lot to those two.  Of course, many more. But those two are big standouts for me."

When prompted about the many more, Savary highlights the students and staff that made up the athletic therapy team supporting the team with helping her body heal, and inspiring her own career as a physiotherapist. "They really kind of helped me with my journey and that kind of led me to want to help other people heal through theirs and kind of get back their function and get back to doing things they love."

And one thing is clear – Simone loves seeing the growth of rugby. "It's really heartwarming and eye-opening, just in the sense that I really grew as a player on and off the field as a person. I had a lot of support systems. I was able to become more out of my shell, find my voice within the program, and challenge myself to be in leadership positions and outreach positions, so growing rugby in different schools and the high schools, growing women's sport in the game, which wasn't as popular in Ottawa at the time. And I think now we've kind of made regular events and it's all throughout the city. So I'm really proud of that."

*Individual point scoring was not officially tracked by the RSEQ conference until 2015. Points credited before 2015 are from game recap articles, where available, and incomplete.