Courtney Holtkamp runs with the ball during a game with the Red Deer Titans. (Lesley Jean Photography)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

TRYING TIMES

Rimbey rugby star headed to the UK’s top 15s league

Aug 28, 2020 | 2:00 PM

A central Alberta born and raised rugby player is taking her talents to the top women’s league in the United Kingdom.

Courtney Holtkamp, who is from Rimbey, recently agreed to go play for the Loughborough Lightning of the Tyrrells Premier 15s.

That’s pronounced “luff-borough,” she notes.

Holtkamp, a back-row who’s moved up to play second row lock, has played the last several years for the University of Alberta and Red Deer Titans, one in the fall and the other during the summer. Her playing days began in grade 8 for the Rimbey Spartans.

“I got to take a look at the facilities in Loughborough and the fields and campus where they train through some photographs sent to me. It’s a very high-performance program. I’m super excited to be able to be a part of it,” she says.

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“This team is full of high-calibre international players from Scotland, Wales, England, and a few of my Canadian teammates. It definitely will help me reach my goals towards preparing for the World Cup in New Zealand in September 2021.”

Holtkamp, who is 21, has made 10 appearances on the pitch for Team Canada, and last year represented her country at the Women’s Rugby Super Series in San Diego.

She says playing for the Lightning could be “transformational” for her rugby aspirations.

Meantime, COVID-19 has offered Holtkamp an experience she hasn’t had in quite some time.

“With quarantine, it’s the first time I’ve had an actual offseason. I’ve been fortunate enough though to have resources available,” she shares. “One of my strength and conditioning coaches up in Edmonton has a little garage gym I’ve been working out in, and since the start of July, fitness facilities have opened up. I’ve also recently been able to access fields to work on individual skills.”

With sports therapy — in addition to playing rugby — the long term goal, Holtkamp will finish up the fourth year of her Kinesiology degree through the U of A, primarily online, while in England.

The agreement to play at Loughborough does not include any additional studies.