🇨🇦 Congratulations to Sherri Sparling on entering the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame🇨🇦
A natural athlete, Sherri Sparling took up rugby in university in 1993, earning Rookie of the Year and Queen’s University MIP honours. She became co-captain of the Queen’s University varsity team by her second season, then moved on to play with the Ottawa Irish. She earned her first cap for Canada just five years after starting the sport.
Sparling’s first appearance for Canada was against the Netherlands during the 1998 Rugby World Cup, debuting as outside centre in the opening match of the tournament. She went on to earn 19 caps, and served as captain (and occasionally co-captain with Moira Sheils) on seven occasions, the first of which was in 2001 for Canada’s first IRB (now World Rugby) win against the United States on home soil. She also captained Canada on a winning three match tour to Wales and at the 2002 Rugby World Cup. Her final game for Canada was the bronze medal match against France at the 2002 Rugby World Cup.
Additionally, Sparling played in a 1999 tour to New Zealand and the 2000 Canada Cup. She played for the Quebec Senior Provincial Team in all six National Championships from 1996 to 2001, and in 1996 co- founded the St. Pius X High School Women’s Rugby Team, which she coached for two seasons.
In 2000, Sparling was named Rugby Athlete of the Year at the Ottawa Sports Awards, and in 2001 was a finalist for the Ottawa Female Athlete of the Year. She captained the Ottawa Irish Rugby Club for two years, 2000 and 2001.
🔗 Read more about the Hall of Fame inductees here: https://bit.ly/3koXbvJ