Season Recap: Gee-Gees women’s rugby close out season showing promise, Grace Dingwall named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year

The University of Ottawa women's rugby team closed out the 2025 season with the U SPORTS National Championship tournament in Vancouver. Finishing sixth place in the country, the Gee-Gees team teased an exciting future for the program.

Welcoming a new head coach to the program, the Gee-Gees earned a 5-1 record in their first regular season under Jack Hanratty.

A pair of rookie Gee-Gees shone during regular season play. Claire Bennet ranked second in the RSEQ with 60 points from 30 converts while Grace Dingwall led the Gee-Gees with ten tries in her freshman campaign.

Dingwall was selected as the RSEQ Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Star. She was joined on the RSEQ First Team by Sophie McDonald, Ngozi Mosindi, Mercedes Cole. Marley Magnussen, and Quynh-Ni Au. Bennet, Alysia Comtois, Erica Osei, and Bronwen Earle were named RSEQ Second Team All-Stars.

Ottawa was matched against Concordia in the RSEQ semi-final, hitting the road to meet the Stingers in Montreal. After picking up a win over the Stingers, the team met the Laval Rouge et Or in the RSEQ final.

Laval was the only team to get the best of Ottawa during the season, and they came out victorious once again. Second in the RSEQ, the Gee-Gees were seeded eighth in the U SPORTS national championship draw.

Three Gee-Gees were recognized at the national level as McDonald and Mosindi received U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honours while Grace Dingwall earned the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year award and Second Team All-Canadian recognition.

The Gee-Gees were matched up against the CanWest champions, the University of Victoria Vikes. The Vikes advanced to the national semi-final, sending the Gee-Gees to the consolation bracket.

Following the loss, the Gee-Gees came out for a dominant performance over the X-Women. Sydney Noseworthy was the first try-scorer for Ottawa, followed by efforts from McDonald, Mosindi, Comtois, Au, Dingwall, and Cameryn Holland.

The 55-3 win advanced the Gee-Gees to the consolation final where the team met the Rouge et Or for the third time in 2025. Despite the efforts from the Ottawa squad, Laval took the win.

Though the team ended the season with a loss, the squad shows an immense amount of promise. With a long list of rookies making an impact on the program and a strong core being built, the team is sure to return to being a national contender for years to come.