X-WOMEN RUGBY LOCKER ROOM OPENS ‘TOP LEFT’

When X-Women Rugby debuted at StFX in 1984, it was with borrowed jerseys, volunteer coaches and a “radical” idea that women could play full contact sport. ree-plus decades, six U SPORTS national titles and 22 AUS conference championships later, the program celebrated another milestone on Oct. 15, 2022 as a community gathered to o cially open the new X-Women Rugby locker room in StFX’s Amelia Saputo Centre for Healthy Living.

Standing among current and former players, parents, fans and supporters, the X-Women Rugby Cabinet—who exceeded their fundraising goal for revitalizing the space—announced the locker room will be named, “TOP LEFT” in honour of the team’s longtime mantra and battle cry.

“Talk about energy in this room. It’s fabulous, I love it,” StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin said as he shared with the crowd that the original fundraising goal of $350,000—a nod to 35 years of women’s rugby on campus—has been surpassed. Over 150 donors have given $390,000 to the campaign to date, funds that will support endowed bursaries and leadership awards for players and fund exhibition travel and the revitalized locker room.

“ is is more than a space in which athletes prepare for games; it is the heart of the team, a space for connection, friendship, joy and even sometimes small disappointments,” Dr. Hakin said as he o cially opened the locker room. “Ultimately, it is a space in which women belong.”

Passion And People

“You can feel the passion in this room! is is what this X-Women Rugby campaign has been about – passion and people,” emcee and X-Women Rugby Campaign Cabinet member Alexis MacDonald ’99 said.

Ms. MacDonald said the fundraising campaign, a rst for any women’s sport at StFX, was born out of a passion for women’s rugby and a desire to seek equity in women’s athletic funding.

“A former player from 1984 remembers talking about the ‘women’s rugby movement’ in hushed tones, like it was a dangerous concept. Women playing a full-contact sport like rugby was considered radical. Fast forward to 1998—only 14 years later—when X-Women Rugby became a varsity-level sport. Today, the team claims 22 conference championships and six national titles.”

Maureen O’Brien ‘91 said the catalyst for her to become involved in the campaign cabinet was the 2019 national championships. “During one of the matches, on a cold November day, the gals on the sideline were wearing warming capes. When they turned around, on the back of the capes it said, ‘StFX Football.’” And I thought: “Why was our national championship team STILL having to wear borrowed gear?!”

She says as a female-led committee, they wanted the fundraising campaign to be di erent, to represent their ideals and that of the rugby team—diversity and inclusiveness. “It is also about equity. Everywhere, women’s sports are chronically underfunded. It came down to ‘if we don’t do this, then who? If we don’t do this now, then when?’”

Eryn Hessian ’00, ’03 agrees. e campaign cabinet member says many feel a responsibility to ensure the future of a team, sport and community they love. “We joke about borrowed jerseys, but everyone who has ever pulled on a StFX jersey can remember those rst few seconds when you did. Instantly you can feel the con dence and the courage of everyone who has worn one before you. From the rst StFX athlete to wear his jersey in 1901, to the young athlete who will wear hers for the rst time today, there is a reason why they put that X over your heart. And the ‘Top Le ’ battle cry was born.”

StFX Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson ’89 said this is a remarkable celebration for X-Women Rugby. “I am a massive fan of rugby culture. e X-Women Rugby team really knows that they are a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Current team co-captain Annie McMullon said that when the team rst heard the locker room was to be named ‘Top Le ,’ many players got emotional as it is their core mindset. is takes it one step further, she said. “We hope to carry your legacy forward.” Head coach Mike Cavanagh says he is so appreciative of the donors and the cabinet. “I think the most amazing thing that this campaign did was bring together the club players and the varsity players. ey were like the cousins we had never met. You knew they were family, but you just hadn’t heard their stories yet. Now we know each other’s stories. We appreciate so much what the club members did.”

“What we are most proud of,” Ms. MacDonald said “is that this campaign engaged alumnae like no other. Eighty per cent of contributions were from women. We also received donations from every single grad year across 35+ years, including current players and their parents. Rugby is a special sport – people just love it, and the support is wide-ranging.”

Although the campaign met its goal, the cabinet isn’t ready to rest. ey understand for the team to remain competitive, fundraising must continue. Becoming an annual donor is as important as contributing to the campaign. e cabinet hopes the support they’ve stirred up in individuals towards women’s rugby is a commitment that lasts a lifetime.

Donations and locker plaque purchases are still accepted at www.stfx.ca/xwomenrugby.