Monday evening’s fundraising event was the perfect chance to recognize numerous current NSWT players for earning their first cap. A total of 19 athletes were capped at the Rugby Canada fundraiser held at Hemingway’s Pub in the trendy Toronto district of Yorkville.

The Canadian Rugby Foundation has realized the importance of recognizing Canadian rugby players – past and present, male and female – for representing their country for the first time. Player representative Sheila Turner has been a driving force behind the women receiving their caps.

The Foundation, a non-profit organization working separately from, but alongside Rugby Canada, arranges the ceremonies for events such as Monday night where the internationals will be present in front of a rugby appreciative crowd.

The term “cap” for an international appearance has been retained from the late 1800s in the UK, when the concept of wearing matching jerseys while playing soccer had not yet been adopted. Instead, players wore pieces of matching headgear, or caps. 
Some NSWT players only had to wait a day until being presented with their first official cap, but the story of the evening had to be the capping of storied player, Gillian Florence. The Montreal native waited a mere 15 years before being recognized at the 2009 Nations Cup for her first cap, earned in 1994 against Kazakhstan.

Originally from Hudson, QC, Florence was classically humble about the accolades and bowed her head shyly as Rick Powers, presenting the caps on behalf of the Foundation, read out the laundry list of her achievements while playing for Canada. 

The flanker is Canada’s most capped female player with a total of 56 caps; a remarkable achievement for any nation, but especially so for a rugby starved North American country that only sees a handful of international matches every year.

Centre Sarah Ulmer of the London Saracens has had the opportunity to play with Florence for Canada for 8 years and speaks very highly of her teammate.
“It’s a fantastic achievement to have over 50 caps for Canada, especially because of the limited international action we see, so it’s taken her 12 years to amass that many caps. She’s an inspiration to the players coming through; she’s a team player and is happy with any role she plays and does it to the best of her ability. Her ability just happens to be of the best standard in the world.”
Florence, who plays her club rugby at Ste. Anne de Bellevue RFC, said she is honored to receive such recognition and, dismissive of her skills, attributes her longevity in the national program to her constant desire.
“I kept training and I honestly wanted it the entire time. A lot of people could have achieved what I have, but I truly think it’s because I wanted it so bad over the years.”

Since her first cap, Florence has seen 7 head coaches of the Canadian program come and go, yet she remains a constant on the roster. The combination of Florence’s skill set, athleticism and attitude has made her a vital common denominator on every Canadian coach’s lineup since 1994.

Florence is reflective when thinking back over the years to her most memorable moments while wearing the black and red jersey. Her first memory is fitting, considering Wednesday’s Nations Cup match against the States.
“The first time we beat the US in 1999 in NZ, because we played them so many times before that and always lost. My first try in Saranac Lake, NY, but only because it was a great tournament and very close to my hometown, so it was a great crowd and I had lots of clubmates there to see it. The 2003 Churchill Cup and being so close to beating England. Everyone played so well and we almost took down one of the giants of women’s rugby and beating France in the ’98 World Cup, which gave us a birth to the semi-final. Most of all, being able to retain our fourth place ranking for the last 11 years”

Fellow Canadian flanker 21-year-old Jen Kish said it has been an invaluable experience to have Florence.

“Ever since I came to the program, they’ve played me alongside Florence and she’s been a huge mentor for me. I knew who she was when I was playing U19 and I can’t believe I get to flank beside her. She is by far the smartest and hardest worker I’ve ever competed with; it is an honor to play with her. I really respect her.”

The national program has seen many changes through Florence’s modest reign, but the current team, combined with the professionalism of the coaching staff, holds a lot of promise for the 2010 World Cup.

“I think this team has so much more depth and you can see that when we go to our bench or when we use any combination of players depending on our game plan, and the quality on the field never drops. In the last two World Cups I played every minute of every game and I don’t have to do that anymore. The younger players have been huge assets to this squad. The athletic skill of the new players coming into the squad combined with them having played U19 or U23, they’ve been primed with the professional attitude, discipline and desire to play at the international level so it’s a smoother transition.”

By providing grants, the Canadian Rugby Foundation is committed to the development and growth of rugby in Canada at all levels.