Ontario athletes presented with caps at CAN USA game in Hamilton

June 26, 2017

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With files from Rugby Canada Communications

Prior to Saturday's kickoff between Canada and the USA in their Rugby Wold Cup Qualifier Game in Hamilton, current and former Canadian Women Internationals were presented their official Rugby Canada caps from their test debuts.
The practice is an initiative of Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation, as both organizations work to award all players who were capped for Canada with their official cap.
The on-field presentation included ten women whose combined playing careers spanned almost three decades, going as far back as 1989. The presentation was especially historic as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the first test match for Canada’s Senior Women’s Team.

Katie Armatage Rajhans
Katie Armatage Rajhans played rugby for the Yeomen Women RFC in Toronto and for McMaster University where she was named a CIAU all-star. Her first game for Canada was Sept 23, 2000 vs New Zealand as part of the Canada Cup. She earned 3 more caps playing for a Canada as a hooker. Katie coached at Wilfred Laurier for a few years and now resides in South Etobicoke with her husband Mohit and her 3 amazing, athletic kids Maya, Rowan and Navin where she continues to coach hockey and baseball.

Caitlin Beaton
Caitlin Beaton played rugby as a second row for the Fergus Highland Rugby Team and with the University of Guelph. She was captain of the University team for 3 years. Throughout her time at University she trained under the direction of the national program. Her first game as a member of Rugby Canada’s National Senior Women’s Team was against the USA for Nations Cup, on August 4, 2013 in Colorado. She currently resides in Waterloo and is enjoying her career as a French Immersion teacher.

Karine Haimovici
Karine Haimovici first played rugby at John Abbott College in 1986 and then for Ste Anne de Bellevue RFC . She represented Quebec at the first National tournament in 1987 and earned her first cap against the USA in September 1989. She was part of the first World Cup Squad in 1991 and earned 5 caps. Her last cap received was against the USA in 1992. In 1993, while playing in the UK, Karine initiated the Nomads team where she played against England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands."

Mackenzie Higgs
Mackenzie Higgs played fly half with the Guelph Gryphons winning a national championship in 2011 and currently plays with the Aurora Barbarians and team Ontario. She has toured twice with the U20 team to England and USA. In 2016 she toured to England and Utah with the Maple Leafs. Her first game as a member of the National Senior Women’s Team was November 9, 2016 defeating Ireland. She currently resides in Toronto and is a coach and high school teacher at Mentor College in Mississauga. "

Brittany Kassil
Brittany Kassil plays for the Guelph RedCoats where she is the Club Captain. She recently graduated from the University of Guelph playing for five years. Brittany was selected in March 2017 for the Can Am games in California. New to the international circuit, she is looking ahead to the upcoming Women’s rugby world cup in Ireland. She has helped coach a local high school team to a provincial championship gold. She currently lives in Guelph, Ontario and holds a leadership position at lululemon.

Jane Kirby
Jane Kirby plays rugby at Highland Rugby Club in Fergus, ON. She is currently a player for the NSW 15s team, recently playing in New Zealand. Her first cap was at Nations Cup 2013 against England. Jane was a member of the Silver Medal Finalists at the 2014 World Cup in Paris and will be travelling to the World Cup this August in Ireland. Jane currently lives in Guelph, where she is an assistant coach with the University of Guelph and works for APTOELLA as the Central and Eastern Sales Rep.

Cindy Nelles
Cindy Nelles earned her first cap for Canada in 2014 against the United States defeating them 14-12. That year she also competed in the 2014 World Cup earning silver. She captained the McMaster Marauders for many years earning National Championships in both fifteens and sevens. Currently playing in the second row, she has been working towards the upcoming World Cup in August earning 12 caps to date.

Nena Orescanin-Wicken               
Nena Orescanin started playing rugby in grade 12 at A.N. Myer high school in Niagara Falls. Her love for the game blossomed quickly and she joined the Ontario Women's team two years later. While at Nationals in September 1992, she joined the National Women's team and played in Minnesota the following week. Playing internationally from 1992 to 1996, including the 1994 World Cup, she earned 9 caps playing in all back positions. Nena now teaches and coaches rugby in the Waterloo Region.

Claragh Pegg
Claragh Pegg played rugby as a prop for the Toronto Irish, and Cooke Rugby Club in Northern Ireland, as well as captained for Queen’s University. Her first game as a member of Rugby Canada’s National Senior Women’s Team was against England at the Nation’s Cup in Colorado on July 30, 2013. She was Captain of the U20 Canadian Team at the 2011 U20 Nation’s Cup and completed 2 tours with the Senior Women’s Team. She currently resides in Waterloo, completing her Master’s Degree in Biomechanics.

Katie Svoboda
Katie Svoboda plays flanker at McMaster University, helping the Marauders win their first-ever CIS title in 2015. From Belleville, she made her Rugby Canada debut in 2013 with the undefeated U20 women at the Nations Cup in England. Svoboda continued with the Canada U20’s, playing in two Can Am Series including as captain in 2015 in Seattle. She made her Canadian senior women's debut against England at the Women's Rugby Super Series on July 1, 2016 in Salt Lake City.

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