Top-ranked Brandon chases first rugby title
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Breanna Sakal embraced the idea that the journey is more important than the destination.
She didn’t know she’d even have a championship to play for when she joined the Brandon University women’s rugby club five years ago. But she stuck with it and helped a young program grow, join a conference and become a title contender.
BU finished third at the inaugural Prairie University Women’s Rugby Conference championship last year and is the No. 1 seed and host of this year’s tournament. It kicks off today at John Reilly Field.
Brandon University rugby captain Breanna Sakal splits a pair of defenders with the ball during practice at John Reilly Field on Wednesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
The No. 2 seed Southern Alberta Institute of Technology plays the University of Saskatchewan at noon, with BU and Mount Royal University clashing at 2 p.m.
“I’ve been anticipating it all year,” Sakal said. “It’s great because I’m excited to have everyone from Brandon come out to see what we’ve been doing for so long. I’ve been at it for five years, so building over the years leading up to this and having an undefeated team is amazing.”
A year ago, Brandon fell 52-27 to the University of Regina in the semifinals in Saskatoon, then bounced back to beat Saskatchewan 41-29 in the bronze-medal match before SAIT claimed gold.
This year, however, there’s no doubt BU boasts the best lineup.
The Bobcats started the season with a 32-7 victory over SAIT and a 39-10 triumph over MRU.
BU won its lone home game 83-17 over Saskatchewan on Oct. 4, then blanked Regina 77-0 last week to finish 4-0.
As was the case last year, speedster Raegan Ricard led Brandon in tries. She scored eight this year, while Megan Thompson was the league’s top scorer thanks to four tries, 20 converts and two penalty kicks.
The team also has plenty of veteran experience to lean on with players like Brooklyn Zemliak, who was part of the dominant Minnedosa Chancellors high school program before the COVID-19 pandemic, and Souris native Beth Couling, who played hooker for the Calgary Dinos in Canada West last year.
“Having players for a while, working with players we’ve had for a couple of years has been a lot better. It took a long time to get a couple of rookies and build over the years,” Sakal said.
“Now that we’re all a team, I feel like the culture’s getting better and better every year. We’re filtering out the players that need to leave and building on the culture we have that makes it really good.”
Kypling Black, left, Raegan Ricard and the BU women’s rugby team open the Prairie University Women’s Rugby Conference championship at home today against Mount Royal University. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
The teams have Saturday off before Sunday’s medal games. The bronze kicks off at 10:30 a.m., with the gold at 1 p.m.
Whatever happens, the past five years under coach Brian Yon have certainly been worth it for Sakal.
“Yon has such a passion for rugby and for our team that it rubs off on the rest of us,” Sakal said. “I’ve loved rugby forever, the community is amazing, I love playing with these girls and being able to come together is great.”
Admission is $5, with children 12 and under being free.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
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