BLUENOSE
RUGBY
About our Crew
Twenty-five girls, identified through Rugby Nova Scotia (RNS) and local rugby club programs, were selected for the inaugural Bluenose Rugby U18F Selects Team. Each Bluenose Rugby Selects member had been recognized for making valuable contributions to their school, club, and provincial rugby teams throughout the school and summer seasons. The Bluenose Crew went to Ireland on tour from March 8th - 15th 2025!
OUR AMAZING COACHES / CAPTAINS AND FIRST OFFICERS
Jack Hanratty
Captain/Head Coach
- Head Coach USA Women's World Cup 15's Team
-Head Coach - Rugby Canada Women’s 7 Olympic Silver Medalists
- World Rugby Level 3 Coach
- Head Coach - University of Ottawa Women’s Rugby
- Coach Staff , Rugby Canada multiple age grades (M & F)
- Head Coach & Executive Director Rugby Nova Scotia
- Ireland WR Level 3 Coach
Home Club: Skerries RFC
Emma DeLory
First Officer/ Assistant Coach
- World Rugby Level 3 Coach
- Provincial Performance Coach
- Rugby Nova Scotia
Head Coach
- St. Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Head Coach
- Rugby NS Canada Games & U19 Atlantic Selects
- Asst. Coach , U18 East Rugby Canada
Ashley Brooker
First Officer/Assistant Coach
-World Rugby Level 2 Coach
-Head Coach, U17 Female Keltics NS Provincial Team
- Development Director, Valley Rugby Union
- Head Coach, U16 Female Keltics NS Provincial Team
- Asst. Coach, Acadia University Women’s Rugby
Home Club: Valley Rugby Union, Nova Scotia
Kenzie Cecchetto
First Officer/Assistant Coach
- Head Coach: King’s Edgehill School
- Asst. Coach NS Canada Games
- Head Coach U-15 Keltics
Our 2025 Ireland Tour Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
This was a great group of girls who made their respective clubs and supporters proud in 2025! We have updated the bios of our retired vets to reflect where they are now.
Prop
Caroline Hilton
Club: Halifax Tars
High School: Lockview HS
Prop
Ainslie Lewis
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: Citadel
Signed with Acadia University 2025/26 season
Prop & Hooker
Evianna Pilichos
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: CPA
Signed with Acadia University 2025/26 season
Hooker
Morgan Cox
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: NKEC
Hooker & Back Row
Marley Laviolette
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: CPA
Signed with St. FX University 2025/26 season
Tight 5 & Back Row
Finlay MacPherson
Club: Halifax Rugby
High School: CPA
Signed with University of PEI for 2025/26 season
2nd Row
Emem Akpan
Club: Halifax Rugby
High School: Sackville High
2nd & Back Row
Erin Keaveny
Club: Halifax Rugby
High School: Citadel
Attending Queen's University
Back Row
Presley Penny
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: Horton
Back Row
Aliya "YaYa" Laraque
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: Auburn
2nd & Back Row
Meredith MacDougall
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: KES
Back Row
Darcie McGrath
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: CPA
Signed with St. FX University for 2025/26 season
Flanker
Phoebe Kelly
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: CPA
Signed with St. FX University for 2025/26 season
Flanker & Centre
Tess Goddard
Club: Toronto City Amazons
High School: Malvern Collegiate Institute
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Number 8
Elwyn Smethurst
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: Avonview HS
Scrum Half
Grace Cail
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: Halifax West HS
Scrum Half
Olivia Spargo
Club: Toronto City Amazons
High School: Northern Secondary School
Stand Off, Full Back
Ali MacLean
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: KES
Stand Off
Sidney Thomson
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: CPA
Signed with Acadia University 2025/26 season
Scrum Half, Stand Off, Fullback
Lucy Van Berkel
Club: Halifax Rugby Club
High School: Auburn
Signed with University of Ottawa 2025/26 season
Centre
Ava Demmings
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: Horton
Signed with Acadia University 2025/26 season
Centres
Gwyn Galloway
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: Horton
Stand off, Fullback & Centre
Claire Bennett
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: Horton
Signed with Acadia University 2025/26 season
Centre & Wing
Rowan Lloyd
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: KES
Wing & Fullback
Ava Woodman
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: Avonview HS
Wing & Fullback
Gabby Shaw
Club: Valley Rugby Union
High School: KES
Signed with Acadia University for 2025/26 season
Our Games
Wicklow RFC U-18.5 girls
Our First game of the tour, against the Wicklow RFC U-18.5 girls.
Final Score 45-0 for the Bluenose Girls
Bluenose vs Skerries/Balbriggan/Ashbourne
Our second game on tour against a combined team of our Hosts Skerries RFC, Balbriggan RC, and Ashbourne RFC u 18.5 Girls. A tighter game but another solid win for the Bluenose girls
Bluenose vs Leinster U-18.5 South All Stars
Our last and hardest game against and All-Star select team from South Leinster. Our hardest match, and unfortunatley our first loss to a very good rep team.
We couldn't have done it without our wonderful sponsors!!
