Couling boosts Brandon rugby teams

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This article was published 17/06/2025 (188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Beth Couling’s eyes were opened to what rugby can look like. Now she’s trying to help her two Brandon teams get there.

The Souris native is back in Westman after a year of Canada West rugby with the University of Calgary Dinos. She has transferred to Brandon University and joined its team, but will first help the Brandon Barbarians senior women chase a Rugby Manitoba championship.

Couling not only scored her first try as a Barb in the team’s 44-22 win over the Dauphin Mavericks in Saturday’s home opener at John Reilly Field, she completed a hat trick.

But she won’t take an ounce of credit.

“I don’t see it as my try, I see it as a team try because it’s all about us. It’s about how we vibe together, how we got to that point,” Couling said.

“It’s all about the team efforts. It’s about seeing where the gaps are. I got my three scores on a pick and go right near the try line. It’s seeing those opportunities, seeing that the team isn’t ready … and taking those chances they give to us.

“I wouldn’t have gone down here if the team didn’t get me down here.”

The five-foot-six hooker had that attitude instilled from the start, which was in Grade 3 as she happened to grow up in a Manitoba rugby hotbed thanks to Souris Sabres varsity coach Brian Yon.

Couling worked her way into the Sabres’ captaincy while also competing for Team Manitoba and being named Rugby Mantoba’s under-18 player of the year for 2023.

As much as she’s grown individually, she feels the biggest thing Yon taught her was teamwork.

“He put me in a leadership role very young, then you wake up like ‘OK, this is my job and my world, to figure out how to be a team player,’” Couling said.

“Just because I have a ‘C’ on my jersey or I’m going to talk to the ref doesn’t mean it’s about me, it’s about the team and looking out for them.”

The Dinos went 0-6 in Couling’s lone season, but after a blowout loss to the UBC Thunderbirds in the semifinals, they nearly won a Canada West bronze medal.

Calgary fell 36-29 to Lethbridge on a try-line stand.

“Honestly, I don’t regret a single second of it, just homesick is all,” Couling said. “I’m totally excited to be back home. I love this province, I love this city, I love my town … I’m just happy to be back.

“Going out there made my eyes open that we have a lot of potential and it’s time to open that up in Rugby Manitoba.”

For the summer, Couling is focused on helping the Barbs chase a title.

For the past few years, just fielding a full starting 15 has been a challenge but with a deeper bench, an injection of youth and a dedicated group, Brandon feels ready to take that step forward.

Dauphin, meanwhile, is playing each team on an exhibition slate until mid-July as it develops into a full-time team. On Saturday, the Barbs lent two players to the Mavs so they could field a full lineup.

The Barbs’ first big home test comes June 28 as Winnipeg’s Assassins roll into John Reilly Field.

“We finally now got our status in the division. It’s about proving we belong here,” Couling said.

“It’s about showing the Winnipeg teams we’re not just some southwest team that is nothing. We have a stance in this province and we’re trying to show the city teams that.”

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