Ghislaine Landry, Justin Douglas named rugby Canada’s sevens players of the year

Kelly Russell won women’s fifteens player of the year honours. Only the third player to earn 50 caps in women’s fifteens rugby, Russell appeared in the first ever women’s Barbarians match alongside teammate Amanda Thornborough and captained Canada to fifth place at the World Cup. The Toronto native announced her retirement after 11 seasons playing for Canada.

Matt Heaton took men’s fifteens player honours.

The six-foot-three 202-pound lock from Godmanchester, Que., started in seven of Canada’s 12 test matches. The 24-year-old, who plays for Darlington Mowden Park in England’s National League 1, also saw action in the back row.

Cole Keith was named men’s young player of the year. The native of Sussex, N.B., native won his first senior cap in the Americas Rugby Championships and was selected for the November internationals squad. He also excelled for Canada at the U20 World Rugby Trophy.

Taylor Black of Oakville, Ont., was named female young player of the year. In 2017, she helped Canada win silver at the Youth Commonwealth Games and gold at the Tropical 7’s Tournament.

Coach of the year honours went to David McCully of Peterborough, Ont., and Jo Anne Robinson of Bayside, Ont. Vancouver’s Alan Hudson was named match official of the year.

Edmonton’s Judy Seddon was honoured as volunteer of the year. Rugby Nova Scotia was named provincial union of the year.

The 2018 Rugby Canada Hall of Fame inductees were former national team coach Ian Birtwell, former Rugby Canada president Monty Heald (posthumously), and former Canadian captains Spence McTavish, Douglas (Buzz) Moore (posthumously), Maria Gallo, Ruth Hellerud-Brown and Stephanie White.

The awards were announced at Rugby Canada’s annual awards dinner Thursday night.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Ghislaine Landry, Justin Douglas named rugby Canada’s sevens players of the year

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