GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons women's rugby team kicks off a new season on Saturday, August 31 as they play host to the Western Mustangs in a 2024 OUA regular season opener. The most successful women's rugby program in OUA history put together another strong season in 2023, finishing the regular season with a record of 5-1 before advancing to the conference championship game for the 15th consecutive season before falling short against the Queen's Gaels. At the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships in Quebec City, the Gryphons wrapped up the 2023 season with a 4th-place finish in the country, marking the second consecutive season in which the Gryphons finished 4th at nationals.

The 2024 OUA season will feature 10 women's rugby programs from across the province competing in a 6-game regular season schedule. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams in the standings will earn byes into the semifinal round of the OUA postseason. The conference playoffs will culminate on October 26 with the playing of the OUA championship final. The teams featured in the OUA championship game will also qualify for the 2024 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships which will be played in Charlottetown, PEI and hosted by the UPEI Panthers (Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 2024). In 2024, the Gryphons will look to add their 18th conference banner in program history, with the most recent OUA title coming in 2021. The Gryphons will also look to earn a trip to Atlantic Canada for the national championships, where Guelph will be in pursuit of a third U SPORTS crown in program history, with the previous two coming in 2011 and 1998.

In 2024, the Gryphons women's rugby team boasts an experienced roster of returning student-athletes, including 2023 OUA All-Star and U SPORTS All-Canadian, Kennedy Feasby, who returns to the flanker position after leading the team with six tries last season. Fellow U SPORTS All-Canadians Taylor McKnight (hooker) and Lara Jorgensen (centre) both return to Guelph after impressive 2023 campaigns.

Abbotsford, British Columbia native and inside centre, Tausani Levale, should once again take on the kicking duties for the Gryphons, while a trio of talented locks return for the 2024 season in Steph Svaikauskas, Signe Caswell and Imogen Barnard. Team Rookie of the Year, Maddy Di Girorlamo (loose head prop), will look to build off her stellar rookie season in 2023. Halle Woodcock, a human kinetics major from Trenton, Ontario, is expected to once again make key contributions from the scrum half position, while team captain and 2023 OUA First Team All-Star, Natalie Armatage, returns for her final season as a Gryphon. Kyla Warren and Addy Holmes add speed on the wing for the Gryphons, while 2023 OUA Second Team All-Star Emily Clark is back after having represented Canada at the FISU game over the summer. Incoming rookie, Iyeainipekun-Oluwa Ogunkeye, could make an immediate impact and has displayed exceptional ball carrying skills at the eight man position.

Addy Holmes, Halle Woodcock, Maddy Di Girorlamo, Grace Jacklin, Emily Lemhardt and Kaya Adamuszewski are all back in Guelph after representing Canada in the U20s in Wales where they went 3-0 over USA, Wales and England in the inaugural Transatlantic Quad Series. Kennedy Feasby, Emily Clark and Natalie Armatage return as silver medalists after representing Canada over the summer at the FISU games.

Joining this experienced Gryphons team for the upcoming season is Brooklyn Feasby, the sister of Kennedy and incoming rookie and local product from John F. Ross, Kaley Bruce.

The Gryphon season opener is scheduled for 1pm on Saturday, August 30 at Varsity Field.