Players return to University of Guelph after Women’s World Cup of Rugby

Two Gryphons are getting quite the welcome home after they helped their team claim second place at the Women’s World Cup of Rugby.

Taylor McKnight and Brittany Kassil were part of the Canadian squad that crossed the pond to compete in the international competition. The Canucks came close to a gold medal finish, but were ultimately defeated by the host team from England on Sept. 27.

Now, the pair have returned to Canada and are once again practicing at the University of Guelph’s Varsity Field where McKnight is a front row forward while Kassil acts as an assistant coach.

“I always know that I have a support system,” McKnight said. “Even though she’s technically my teammate, I can always ask questions.”

McKnight was the youngest member of team Canada, and The World Cup was a chance to learn from the very best.

“All the facilities we played at were great. I’ve never been overseas, to Europe, to play before. That was super cool as well,” she said.

Kassil also said it was an experience like no other as a palpable passion took over the crowd.

“Even just hearing all the little schoolboys and schoolgirls get excited, having watch parties, watching the semifinal, watching the final,” she said.

The World Cup served as a testament to how the sport has grown. For the final, 81,885 people packed the stands.

Both women said they are excited to see where the future of the sport will go.

“I would say that not a lot of people start in rugby,” Kassil said. “They find their way to rugby. In soccer, I got told, ‘Keep your elbows down. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. You’re too aggressive.’ So, you’re put in this box as young girls and we’re told not to do a certain thing or be a certain way. With rugby, I was praised for all those things.”

As more professional opportunities are becoming available in Europe, McKnight, a bio-medical science student, said she may have a new path to consider.

“I would be excited to see how that takes me and how long I could pursue that,” she said. “But at the same time, I know I have that academic background. If I wanted to come back to Canada and pursue a career in anything in the medical field like I want to do.”