Women In Rugby: Lori McCulskey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1st, 2022
(WHITBY, ON) - International Women’s Day will be celebrated on March 8th, 2022. In the lead up to the day, Rugby Ontario will be publishing features on various women in the rugby community from all across the province who are helping to grow the game. Today's feature is on Lori McCulskey! Lori has been involved with various clubs across Ontario and recently helped to co-found the Rainbow Griffins, a new club looking grow the sport. Read below to learn more about Lori!
How did you first get involved with rugby?
I was first introduced to rugby in high school. I played for 5 years during my high school days and then played for a couple of years with the Oshawa Vikings before hanging up my player cleats for a coach's whistle. I have since coached high school rugby for 3 years, and have most recently been the head coach for Canada's oldest inclusive rugby team, Toronto Muddy York. This year I also helped to co-found a new rugby club called the Rainbow Griffins which looks to bring the sport to racialized and marginalized players.
What is your favourite rugby memory?
I have a few, it's been an exciting last couple of years! In 2018 I brought Muddy York to Amsterdam to compete in the Bingham Cup where we made it to the finals in our division. In 2019 we won our home-hosted end of the year tournament, the Beaver Bowl. In 2021 myself, the coach, and the team became certified as a Mixed Ability team meaning we are able to provide rugby to everyone, regardless of skill or ability. In 2021 we won the first-ever Mixed Ability All In Rugby Tournament
What do you love most about the sport?
I love that regardless of body type, identity, gender, sexuality or experience, there is a spot for EVERYBODY on a rugby team. It is such a supportive community. Once you become a part of the rugby community, you pretty much have a community for life.
Do you have a female athlete/coach/match official who inspired you to get involved in sport?
My mother has actually always been my inspiration to be involved in sport (not just rugby). She was always active on her own teams as I was growing up and very supportive of whatever sport it was that I was playing over the years. Always at every practice and game from childhood to adulthood my mom has always embraced and supported sport and my involvement in it my entire life.
What challenges have you faced as a female in sports?
Over the years as I was playing various sports, the common rhetoric was always "female sports are boring", or "not as good" as males who are playing the same sports. It has often felt like you need to be twice as good to get half the recognition male athletes receive. Now, as a female coach in a predominantly male-dominant sport (because I coach a men's rugby team), it can be hard at times to see yourself represented in leadership positions, or to be taken seriously as a leader and a coach.
What are some of the challenges women’s rugby continues to face?
I would say retention is the biggest challenge. As women age and become more focused on career, family, etc. involvement in sport tends to be one of the things that drops off first because it doesn't feel like a priority with all of life's other obligations.
What can Rugby Ontario do to help grow Women’s Rugby?
Encourage clubs to offer many iterations of rugby for women to continue in the sport. Whether it be mentoring junior players, playing flag/touch rugby once contact isn't possible anymore or encouraging/supporting more females to get their coaching or officiating credentials will help to ensure women can maintain representation in the sport.
What makes you feel the most optimistic and excited about the growth of women’s rugby?
With my involvement with Muddy York and the Rainbow Griffins, I have been seeing more women coming out to try the sport, to coach/train the teams and to be involved on the Board/Executive.
What would you say to a young female who is thinking of getting involved in rugby?
Don't get in your own way! It can be easy to talk ourselves out of trying new things, wondering if we're "good enough" and having the courage to put ourselves out there. Do it! Be brave, be bold and take up space!
In an ideal world, what would the sport of rugby look like in 5 to 10 years?
From a Canadian perspective, I would like to see rugby not be a sport people kind of "discover" later in life. As kids, we typically don't play pick-up rugby in the same way we do with road hockey or basketball. Exposing children to rugby at a younger age and getting them interested in the sport before their late teens or even adulthood is a great way to expand the sport.
ABOUT RUGBY ONTARIO
Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to lead, support and promote Rugby for All from communities to clubs to province. This mission signals a movement toward creating a more cohesive, supportive and progressive sporting environment that is responsive to the needs of all members.
To learn more, visit https://www.rugbyontario.com/
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Dalton Finkbeiner
Communications and Marketing Coordinator - Rugby Ontario
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