Malvern Collegiate’s Junior and Senior girls rugby 7s teams win city championships

Fifteen years after Malvern Collegiate launched its girls’ rugby program, the school is celebrating a championship double, with both its Junior and Senior teams capturing Toronto District School Board (TDSB) city titles in Rugby 7s this fall.

For the Grade 12 players on the Senior team, the victories continue an impressive streak. Throughout their high school careers, the group has never lost a city rugby final, winning as Juniors and in both Senior seasons.

Last spring, Malvern’s Varsity 15s team, which brings together players from Grades 9 to 12, also captured the city championship, earning its second consecutive berth at OFSAA – Ontario’s provincial high school championships.

But Malvern’s girls’ rugby success extends beyond the scoreboard. With more than 35 players each season and alumni competing at higher levels, the school is building something bigger than a winning rugby program.

The program was started originally by two now local principals, Lesley Gage and Claudine Tyrell. Since 2012, Malvern teacher Lisa Angela Turcotte, affectionately known as “LA,” has been a driving force behind the program. Five years ago, Maddy Lagasca and Sam Ryan joined the coaching staff, bringing their experience as senior women’s players at the Balmy Beach Rugby Club.

Malvern’s championships come at an exciting moment for Canadian women’s rugby. Canada’s national team recently made international headlines with back-to-back victories over England, ending the Red Roses’ long unbeaten run and demonstrating Canada’s growing strength on the world stage.

While Canada’s top players are making history internationally, grassroots programs like Malvern’s are helping develop the next generation and, just as importantly, keeping girls involved in sport. According to a 2020 report from Canadian Women & Sport, one in three girls drops out of sport by late adolescence, compared with just one in 10 boys.

At Malvern, many players who join rugby in Grade 9 continue playing through graduation. The commitment is no small feat, with girls arriving at school for 7:15 a.m. practices three mornings a week, training until 8:30 a.m. before heading to class.

The program also takes a player-led approach to leadership, giving girls opportunities to take ownership of their team culture and develop their own leadership styles. Older players mentor younger teammates, helping create an environment where players learn to support each other through challenges and celebrate each other’s successes.

“Seeing the girls become strong, confident and independent women and leaders in their school community, as well as excelling beyond high school, is why I am committed to the program,” said Turcotte. “I tell the girls that we are a sisterhood, a family. We support one another.”

Malvern’s success also reflects the strength of the wider rugby community in the Beach.

Over the years, volunteer coaches from Balmy Beach Rugby Club, including Dom Rumball, Kristin Bonomo and Lisa Desario, have contributed their time and expertise to the program.

Many Malvern athletes also play for local clubs, with a significant number representing Balmy Beach. A growing number of players from both programs are earning spots on the Toronto Rugby Union (TRU) Reds representative teams, while Malvern alumni have gone on to compete in university rugby through the OUA and RSEQ or become fixtures on the Balmy Beach senior women’s team.

The opportunities continue to grow. In March 2027, Balmy Beach’s U18 girls team is planning the club’s first-ever overseas tour, travelling to France to compete against local teams.

Yet for the coaches, success isn’t measured only by championships or how far players progress in rugby.

“One of my favourite things about coaching is watching the girls grow into themselves,” said Malvern coach Lagasca.

“You see girls who were quiet and afraid to make mistakes in Grade 9 become the ones teaching younger players how to tackle and encouraging them to get back up when things don’t go their way. Rugby teaches resilience, but it also teaches you that you can’t do it alone. What’s really special is how genuinely invested the girls become in each other’s success. They leave as confident young women who know how to lead and lift others up.”

For Malvern’s graduating players, this fall’s championships continue an undefeated run in city finals. But the program’s greatest legacy may be the confident, capable young women who leave Malvern ready to take on whatever comes next.

Interested in playing or supporting girls or women’s rugby at the Balmy Beach Club, feel free to reach out to:  Maddy Lagasca at maddelynjharris@gmail.com or Kristin Bonomo at bonomok@gmail.com