Burgoyne a rugby natural
Charli Burgoyne headed into her Grade 11 year at Blessed Trinity searching for something new.
“I was looking to challenge myself and I thought trying rugby would be a good idea. My dad (Jim) played rugby so I tried out for the school rugby team. Originally the teacher who did the rugby team for the school wanted me to do cheerleading because I do dance but I wanted to try rugby,” the 17-year-old Grimsby resident said. “I made the team and played all year with BT and in the summer I tried out for NRU (Niagara Rugby Union) and I made NRU. I played for NRU in the summer and played in the Ontario Summer Games at Western.”
Her father, who helps coach girls rugby at BT, also played with NRU and competed at the Summer Games.
Competing at the Games with NRU, she was approached by Brock, which expressed an interest in her playing at the St. Catharines university.
It was love at first tackle for Burgoyne.
“My dad always talked about how I should try out and I really loved it. He started to help coach and I felt a real passion for the sport and I wanted to keep going with it,” the competitive dancer and dance teacher said. “Competitive dance and rugby are completely different sports but I like them.”
In the first rugby tournament Burgoyne played in September of 2023, two universities came up to her and expressed an interest in her playing at the university level.
“It was my first game and the rugby coach from Laurier offered for me to come down and meet the team.
“I went down to Laurier, attended a rugby gala and I met all the rugby players there,” the Grade 12 student said.
Once Brock expressed an interest in her, Laurier quickly fell off the radar.
“I really like the school, I know a lot of girls who go there, I also know the Brock rugby coaches and I wanted to stay close to home.”
The future early child youth studies major, who one day wants to become a teacher, is looking forward to her first season of post secondary rugby. Her goal is to get playing time any way she can.
“I really just want to improve myself, work hard and do the best I can for the team,” the 8 man/flanker said.
In her short time in the sport, she feels she has made a lot of improvements.
“My confidence in the sport has grown. When I first tried out and when I first started playing, I was very nervous and I wasn’t sure about a lot of the rules and stuff. But I feel that over the year I have gained confidence in the sport. The team has also helped me.”
She credits her dance background for her rapid ascent in the sport.
“Most of my abilities are the ones that transferred really well from dance. I am very good on my feet, I know how to fall so I don’t get hurt and I am in tune with my body from dance.”
