Université Laval Rouge et Or ended their dream season on Sunday with a convincing 22-5 victory over the Queen’s Gaels to win gold at the Canadian Rugby Championship in Victoria.
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Undefeated in RSEQ with a second straight provincial title, François Vachon-Marceau’s charges capped a perfect season with three national wins to capture the second Canadian title in the program’s history after 2019. It’s also a perfect first season.
This victory also had an air of revenge. Last year Laval lost to the same Gaels in the semifinals and had to settle for the bronze medal. The Gaels, the number one seeded national team, were aiming for a second consecutive national title.
“It’s a mega achievement,” said the head coach, who was hired on an interim basis when Kévin Rouet left the national team, at the XV. This is the first time we’ve managed to win the RSEQ and Canadian titles in the same year. I was in the program for a long time and I knew we had the band for it. »
Player par excellence
Author of 28 points in three games, including 12 in the final thanks to four penalties, Audrey Champagne earned the title of Player of the Tournament. “I’m feeling really good, but none of this would have been possible without everyone’s hard work,” she said. I will remember the team win and not the individual wins. It’s an indescribable moment. »
“In the pre-season we set the tone by beating Queen 38-0,” added Champagne, “and we showed it today [dimanche] that we were the best team. It’s been a year since losing to Queen’s weighed on our hearts. »
In addition to Champagne, Gabrielle Piquer, Andréanne Valois, Léa Ouellet and Corinne Fréchette were voted into the Championship All-Star Team.
feeling of revenge
Fréchette, the ultimate player par excellence, rushed in the same direction. “Our defeat in the semifinals last year was our motivation,” she emphasized. It feels good that all the work we’ve done over the past year has been rewarded. We drove at full speed because we didn’t want to miss our shot. »
“There’s nothing more satisfying than giving up five points in the final,” said Fréchette, who has also been called up to the first team of all the country’s stars. They couldn’t do anything in the first half. We knew we were backing the best defense in the country and we proved it. Defense has always been the identity of the team. It’s defense that wins championships. »
profitable decision
After a season in France playing in the professional ranks, Rosalie Lepage-Tremblay decided to return home to use her final year of eligibility. Andréanne Valois made the same decision. Both were voted into the country’s first All-Star team, as were Anaïs Gilbert and Marie-Pier Fauteux.
“It’s the best decision I’ve made,” she said. I’m so happy. When I came back to Laval for one last year, it was clear I wanted to win everything. I also wanted to have a great group experience. Mission accomplished in both cases. »
When his university career is over, Lepage-Tremblay has no intention of giving up his cleats. “You just want to keep going,” she says. I’m going to party with the girls this week and next week I’m going back to France. The French championship begins in early December. I want to grow rugby in Quebec. »
The Rouge et Or are on the national podium for the fourth time in five years. The Lavalloises won silver in 2017.