Women's Rugby

Team Information

Head Coach: Beth Barz
2006-2007 will be Beth’s fifth season with the Golden Gaels, her second as Head Coach. Beth coached the forwards for three years before taking over the helm in the 2005 season. Her rugby career started in 1992 when she began the first high school team in her hometown of Barrie, Ontario. She spent four seasons with the Queen’s team playing mainly scrum-half and prop for those years. In addition to her work with Queen’s, Beth is involved with the Rugby Ontario U-17 women’s team as the forwards coach. Her provincial team captured a gold medal at the 2005 National Championships. Beth is a teacher in Sydenham, just north of Kingston, and also coaches her high school girl’s team.

Assistant Coach (Backs & Defense): Sean Burton
A Kingston local, Sean has been an integral member of the coaching staff of the Gaels since the 2001-2002 season. 2006-07 will be Sean's 6th season coaching with the Queen's Women's Rugby program. His rugby background includes 17 years of playing experience at the high school, U19, university, and Sr club levels, coaching experience at the high school, university and club levels (including the Kingston Women this summer), as well as refereeing in the local high school league. Sean has also been involved in a variety of administrative positions with the local Kingston Rugby Club, including Club Captain, VP Sr Men, and VP Jr Men. Sean is a graduate of the B.Ed program at Queen's and currently teaches Grade One in the Limestone Board.

Assistant Coach (Forwards): Vicki Ward
Vicki informally coached with the Golden Gaels in the 2006 campaign, where she adeptly showed her rugby knowledge with all players. A three-time OUA Rugby All-Star and former Golden Gaels volleyball team member, Vicki brings a wealth of game experience to the coaching staff. A high school teacher just west of Kingston, Vicki will use her quiet demeanor and high expectations to bring out the best in our athletes.

Trainers:
Keira Loukes - 4th year Phys Ed student
Megan de Jonge - 4th year Phys Ed student

Contact Information:
Beth Barz
Head Coach, Women's Rugby
c/o Department of Athletics and Recreation
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario
Canada, K7L 3N6
613-532-9895 (cell)
barzb@limestone.on.ca

OUA/CIS: OUA.CIS

Schedule/Results: Click here

Eligibility Certificate: Excel file

Team News

Rugby (W):  Gaels Coach Earns National Honour

Kingston, Ont. (March 18, 2008) - Queen's Golden Gaels women's rugby head coach Beth Barz has received the National Team Apprenticeship Program (NATP) grant from the Coaches Association of Canada.  The grant which is given every two years gives Barz the opportunity to work as an apprentice coach with the Under 20 (U20) National Women's Rugby Team with head coach John Coumbe-Lilley.  The U20 team travelled to San Diego two weeks ago for training and to participate in the San Diego Surfers Tournament.   The 47 players from Canada were split into two teams The Caribou and The Kodiak.  The Kodiak which was coached by Barz and Kevin Jones faced The Caribou in the tournament final which Barz's squad won to claim the title. 

Three Gaels players were among the 47 invited to San Diego; Jocelyn Poirier of Ottawa, Ont. the current Queen's captain and second year player has been involved with national age-grade competition for several years now.  Emily Mattiusi  of Ottawa, Ont. was a rookie this year with the Tricolour and is involved with the national team for the first time after representing Ontario at the U17 and U19 levels.  Julie Englehardt of Brampton, Ont. a second year player has represented Ontario at the U17 and U19 levels for several years as well. 

In other Queen's women's rugby news, assistant coach Sean Burton has been appointed as a coach with the Ontario Under 17 (U17) women's program for the upcoming year.  For Burton it will be his second year coaching with the provincial side.

Women's Rugby Loses To Waterloo 8-7
Kingston, Ont. (October 5, 2007) - The Queen's Golden Gaels lost a narrow 8-7 decision to the Waterloo Warriors Friday afternoon in Kingston.  The loss puts the Gaels on the road for the playoffs against the defending league champion Guelph Gryphons. 

All the scoring took place in the first half with Waterloo scoring first on a penalty kick by Katie Selman, Sarnia, Ontario, 22 minutes in to make it 3-0.  Two minutes later Selman picked up the ball in her own half and sprinted down the right sideline all the way for a try.  She missed the conversion kick and it was 8-0. 

The Gaels bounced back six minutes later putting pressure on Waterloo.  They were rewarded when Rose LaBreche, Markham, Ontario, took a pass deked out a Waterloo defender and ran in from ten metres out for the try.  Jenny Reid added the conversion kick and Queen's was within a point. 

In the second half the teams fought for territorial advantage.  The Gaels put pressure on in the dying moments coming two within three metres of scoring the go ahead try but Waterloo hung on for their fourth victory of the season.

After the game Queen's assistant coach Sean Burton said the team played much better than the week before when they lost 50-0 to Guelph.  "I think it's important to recognize the step up we took from last week.  I think for us to come up against a solid side and only lose by one point with plenty of opportunities to take the game that's something we need to be really proud of."

Gael fifth year player Jenny Reid, Trenton, Ontario says the team certainly feels encouraged heading into next week's playoff game in Guelph.  "Our practices have definitely changed a lot and it was a totally different team on the field today.  We lost at Guelph last year in the playoffs but I think we are going to bring it to them next week; it's going to be different than last time."

Queen's will face the Gryphons in Guelph next weekend in the OUA quarterfinals while Waterloo will host McMaster.

Women's Rugby Loses 50-0 To Guelph
Kingston, Ont. (September 29, 2007) - The defending OUA champion Guelph Gryphons handed the Queen's Golden Gaels their first loss of the season 50-0 in Kingston Saturday afternoon. The Gryphons were led by Jacey Murphy who scored three tries with Michelle Joslin adding two tries. Gryphon Lianne Inglis kicked five converts and Larissa Chomyk, Jane Kirby and Jen Cerullo scored one try apiece. Guelph scored tries two minutes apart to take a 19-0 lead into halftime. In the second half the Gryphons kept their foot on the accelerator as they increased the lead to 33-0 16 minutes into the second half. The Gryphons improve to 2-2 while Queen's falls to 3-1 and tied for first with Trent in the Russell division. Queen's hosts Waterloo next Friday October 5th at Kingston Field at 1pm.

Photos by Michael Parkinson...

Women's Rugby Wins 20-5 At Toronto
Toronto, Ont. (September 22, 2007) - The Queen's Golden Gaels improved to 3-0 in OUA play with a 20-5 win over the Varsity Blues in Toronto. The two teams were tied at 5 at halftime but Queen's took control in the second half with three unanswered tries. Laura Cooney scored first after the intermission 15 minutes in with Christine Wadsworth and Rose Labreche scoring the other two tries three minutes apart later in the second half. Lauren Young scored the Gaels only points in the opening half on a sensational try when she blocked a Toronto kick and scooped up the ball running it in from twenty yards out. Queen's is back home at Kingston Field next weekend Saturday September 29th at 1pm against the defending OUA champion Guelph Gryphons.

Women's Rugby Defeats Trent 20-15
Kingston, Ont. (September 16, 2007) - The Queen's Golden Gaels improved to 2-0 in OUA play with a hard fought 20-15 victory over the visiting Trent Excalibur Sunday afternoon in Kingston. The Gaels received tries from four different players with first year forward Christine Wadsworth accounting for the winning points with a try 15 minutes into the second half. Queen's took the lead 5-0 just a minute in on a try by Rose Labreche, but Peggy-Rae Carswell missed the conversion kick. Trent got on the board five minutes later when Laura Bavarar scooped up a loose ball and ran 25 metres and when Krissy Boyles put through the conversion the Excalibur led 7-5. At the 24 minute mark of the first half the Gaels retook the lead when Jocelyn Poirier ran 20 metres for a try to make 10-5 after Carswell's conversion hit the bar. Boyles tied the score four minutes later when she made a penalty goal from 15 metres out but the Gaels on a try by Lauren Young late in the half went into the intermission with a 15-10 lead. In the second half Trent tied the game again six minutes in when Julie Brown scored a try. Six minutes later Queen's using a more physical game from the forwards scored the winning points when they forced the ball over and Wadsworth touched the ball down. After the game Gaels head coach Beth Barz said the winning try was a case of the Queen's forwards reacting angrily to a poor first half. "That was a try scored on sheer will, I know the forwards weren't happy with their first half and in the second half they tried to improve on that". Wadsworth added that Trent is going to be a force this year, "They beat Guelph who are the defending champs so we knew it was going to be a tough game but we rose to the occasion". Queen's next faces the Varsity Blues in Toronto Saturday September 22nd before coming back home Saturday September 29th to play Guelph.

Photos by Michael Parkinson...

Women's Rugby Beats York 31-19
Toronto, Ont. (September 12, 2007) - The Queen's Golden Gaels opened their OUA season with a convincing 31-19 victory at the York Lions. The Gaels received tries from five different players with Laura Cooney, Ashley McIntyre, Jocelyn Poirier, Breanne Sherwood and Lauren Young all touching the ball down in the York end. Queen's Peggy-Rae Carswell converted three of the five tries recording six points in the game. Natalie Tam of York led all scorers with two tries for ten points. The Gaels are back in action this Sunday afternoon when they have their home opener at Kingston Field against the Trent Excalibur. Game time is 1pm September 16th.

Women's Rugby News
Kingston, ON (August 28, 2007) - The Queen's Golden Gaels women's rugby team has started training camp this week after a busy last couple of weeks. Head Coach Beth Barz, the 2006 CIS Coach of the Year, and assistant coach Sean Burton led a pair of Under 17 Ontario Women's teams to medals at the National Rugby Championships in St. John's Newfoundland. The Ontario teams claimed a silver and a bronze medal at the tournament that finished Sunday August 19.

At those same championships two current Golden Gaels were members of the Ontario Under 19 team that won the gold medal. Jocelyn Poirier (2nd year, Carp, Ontario) and Julie Englehart (2nd year, Aylmer, Ontario) helped lead Ontario to a 22-0 victory over Quebec in the final.

Finally third year player Lauren Young (Brantford, Ontario) was a member of the Ontario Senior women's side, playing significant roles and multiple positions in matches throughout the summer. She was also selected to serve as a sideline official/touch judge during the National Championships.

The Golden Gaels host the Concordia Stingers Thursday August 30th at 6pm at Kingston Field in an exhibition game. The OUA season kicks off for Queen's September 12th at York against the Lions with the Gaels home opener Sunday September 16th at 1pm against the Trent Excalibur.

Women's Rugby Coach To Lead Ontario
Kingston, ON (June 25, 2007) - Queen's Golden Gaels women's rugby coach Beth Barz has been named head coach of the Ontario Under 17 team for this summer. Beth was the assistant coach with the team for two years helping them win two National Championships. Beth was named the CIS Coach of the Year in November after leading the Gaels to a fourth place finish in the difficult Sheils Division making it to the OUA quarterfinals. Gaels assistant coach Sean Burton will be joining Coach Barz on the Ontario coaching staff. Sean is currently finishing his Level Three NCCP certification and is looking forward to helping with the provincial squad.

Queen's University Running Flag Rugby Clinic
Queen’s Rugby Football Club will host a Referee/Coaching clinic for Flag Rugby, Feb 9th 5-7pm in the BEWS Gymnasium at Queen’s University.

The session is free of charge and will be run by Rugby Ontario’s Development Manager Drew MacPherson. Queen’s plans to put all varsity players through the clinic, in order to better help spread the Flag Rugby game across the province.

Anyone who attends the clinic will receive a “certificate of attendance” which allows them to referee and coach Flag Rugby.

Flag Rugby has grown tremendously over the last few years in Ontario clubs with under 8, 10 and 12 year old teams playing in “Festivals” during the summer, adults have also embraced the game as a fun non-contact way to play and stay sharp over the winter. Schools are now starting to realize the game is a fun, safe and aerobic activity that children love.

This clinic is open to the public, contact Luke Follwell flagrugby@queensrugby.ca or 613-329-7131 for more information.

For more information about Flag Rugby contact Drew MacPherson flagrugby@osrc.com or 416-426-7181

Women's Rugby Coach Gets CIS Honour
London, Ont (November 2, 2006) - Queen's Golden Gaels women's rugby coach Beth Barz has been named the national coach of the year at the awards dinner later tonight in London Ontario. The CIS women's rugby championships start tomorrow at the University of Western Ontario and Barz who coached the Gaels to a 2-3 record and fourth place finish is in her second season with the Tricolour. Queen's under Barz's tutelage this season finished fourth in the highly competitive OUA Shiels Division. Barz is the third Queen's women's rugby coach since 2000 to take CIS coach of the year honours. One of Barz's players Erin Bailey was also named an All Canadian at the dinner tonight. Bailey a 4th year Arts and Science student from Peterborough Ontario provided critical veteran leadership to a young Queen's team.

Women's Rugby OUA All-Stars
Kingston, Ont (October 31, 2006) - Queen's Athletics congratulates the following players from women's rugby on their recognition as OUA All-Stars (Sheils Division):

1st Team All-Stars
Erin Bailey
Paige Churchill

OUA Coach of the Year
Head Coach Beth Barz

Women's Rugby Loses Quarterfinal Heartbreaker 8-5
Hamilton, Ont (October 18, 2006) - The Queen's Golden Gaels lost their OUA quarterfinal 8-5 to the McMaster Marauders in Hamilton on Wednesday night in sudden death play. The difference in the game was a penalty goal by Marauder Sarah Van Hoof who also scored a try to account for all of her teams' scoring. Gaels points came from a try by Nahla Khouri. For the Marauders they move on to the semifinals where they will face the first place, and defending national champion, Western Ontario Mustangs in London on the weekend. The Gaels finished their season with a 2-5 record.

Women's Rugby Blanked 27-0 at Guelph
Guelph, Ont (October 14, 2006) - The Queen's Golden Gaels suffered a tough 27-0 loss in Guelph to the Gryphons Saturday afternoon in OUA women's rugby action. The defeat means the Gaels finish the regular season 2-3 and in fourth in the Sheils division which will make them the fifth seed for the playoffs which will start next Wednesday with the quarterfinals. Queen's will go to Hamilton Wednesday October 18th for a quarterfinal game against the McMaster Marauders who went undefeated in the Russell division. Waterloo will meet York in the other quarterfinal with Guelph and Western Ontario getting first round byes and hosting semifinal games next weekend.

Waterloo Squeaks By Queen's 18-17
Waterloo, Ont (October 6, 2006) - The Queen's Golden Gaels travelled to Waterloo Friday and lost a heartbreaker to the Warriors 18-17. The Warriors received all but three of their points from the Kellys, Diane (10) and Lisa (5) in the back and forth game. For Queen's Julie Engelhart led the way scoring two tries and kicking a conversion for a game high 12 points and Paige Churchill added the other try as the two teams both now sport records of 2-2 and are tied for third in the Shield Division. The Gaels next game is at Guelph against the 3-1 Gryphons next Saturday October 14th.

Women's Rugby wins 10-7 (league)
St. Catharines, On (September 30, 2006) - The Queen's Golden Gaels went to St. Catharines and defeated the Brock Badgers in OUA play. The Gaels got their tries from Julie Sullivan and Lauren Young.

Women's Rugby - Queen's 0 Western 32
Kingston, Ont (Sept 23, 2006) - The Western Ontario Mustangs blanked the Queen's Golden Gaels 32-0 at Kingston Field. The Mustangs led 8-0 at halftime but exploded for four tries in the second half including three in a span of twelve minutes. Leading the way for the Mustangs was Tanja Ness who scored two tries. The other tries were scored by Theresa Vandergaast, Nicole Bailey and Laura Russell. Martha Goodrow added a conversion and Jennifer Wong kicked a conversion and a penalty goal.

Photos by Michael Parkinson...

September 16, 2006 vs. Laurier
The Queen's Golden Gaels opened their OUA regular season off on a winning note defeating Laurier 24-10. The Gaels led 12-0 at halftime and received 2 tries from Jenny Reid. Queen's other tries came from Erin Bailey and Julie Sullivan. Reid also kicked to converts. For Laurier Amanda Fitzpatrick and Aimee Carroll scored tries. The Golden Hawks who are now 0-1 face crosstown rival Waterloo next Saturday. The Gaels also see their next action on September 23rd at home against the University of Western Ontario.

Queen's Women's Rugby Pounds Carleton in Exhibition Play
Kingston, Ont (September 9, 2006) - In women's rugby on Saturday the Gaels hammered Carleton 62-0 in an exhibition game at Kingston Field. The star of the game for Queen's was Jenny Reid who scored 3 tries and kicked 3 conversions for 21 of her teams total. The women's team opens their regular season this Saturday September 16th at Kingston Field at 3 pm against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

Photos by Changuk Sohn...

Head Women’s Coach Beth Barz Announces New Recruits
KINGSTON, ON (July 31, 2006) – Gaels Head Coach Beth Barz, an assistant coach with the Ontario U-17 Women's Rugby Team, is pleased to announce the recruiting of a number of high-end first year players for the 2006-07 season. Coach Barz expects that all of the new recruits will make an immediate impact on the women’s rugby program this Fall. The recruits are as follows:

Steph Bailey - Thomas A. Stewart High School (Peterborough)
Finished first at OFSAA in a tight victory over Lawrence Park. Attended last tour to Boulder, Colorado with the U-19 National team. Her position is as eighthman. Steph will be attending the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies.

Peggy-Rae Carswell - Bell High School (Ottawa)
Won a gold medal at Nationals with the U-17 Ontario team last summer. Plays Fly Half and kicks conversions for both her high school team and at the provincial level. Peggy-Rae will be attending the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies.

Julie Englehardt
Won gold as a starting winger with the U-17 Ontario team last season. Julie is enrolled in the Arts and Science program.

Rosemin LeBreche - Markham District High School (Markham)
Won gold at the Nationals with the U-17 Ontario team last summer and scored both Ontario tries in the final game. Rosemin will be majoring in the Sciences.

Jocelyn Poirier - Bell High School (Ottawa)
Was a member of the U-19 National team that traveled to Boulder, Colorado in June to play a two-match series in the USA. Won two gold medals with the Ontario U-17 team in past years and is currently playing with the U19 Ontario team as a fullback and winger. Jocelyn will be attending the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies.

Lindsay Sample - Barrie Central (Barrie)
Finished fourth at OFSAA, losing to T.A. Stewart in the semi-finals. Her usual position is flanker but she filled in admirably at scrum half. Lindsay is enrolled in the Arts and Science program at Queen's.

Emily Stern - Lawrence Park (Toronto)
A former Ontario U-17 player, she was a member of the team that lost to T.A. Stewart in the OFSAA /AAA Final. Emily will be attending the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies.

Queen's Athletics Hosts Canadian National Women's Rugby Squad
KINGSTON, ON (July 21, 2006) - Queen's Athletics is pleased to host a 17-day training camp for our women's national rugby squad. The camp is being held at Kingston Field on the corner of Stuart Street and University Avenue (across from KGH).

Practices take place from 9 am to 11.00 am and resume in the afternoon from 3.00 pm until 5.00 pm.

The National team will participate in a number of games starting on Sunday July 23 against the Ontario provincial team at Richardson Stadium, start time 2.00 pm. On Sunday July 30th the National team will meet the Canadian Barbarians coached by Beth Barz, Queen's head women's rugby coach, starting at 2.00 pm at Richardson Stadium. The final match will be against the Quebec provincial team on August 6th starting at 12.00 pm. at Richardson Stadium.

The National team training schedule may be found here. (Excel file)

For more information please contact
Brad Greenwood
Manager of Operations
greenwdb@post.queensu.ca
613-533-6000 ext. 78303