KELLY RUSSELL ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT

When Kelly Russell first started playing rugby, in 2002, the questions she most often fielded came from a place of confusion, curiosity and, perhaps to some extent, concern.

“The first question would be, ‘So…women play rugby?” Russell recalls. “Then they would go on...’but won’t you get hurt?’”

Fifteen years on, the answer to the first question is a resounding “Yes.” In regards to the second question, perhaps it might have been better served for concern to be heaped upon Russell’s opposition.

Today, one of Canadas’s greatest rugby players to ever don the Maple Leaf is officially retiring from both the national 15s and sevens programs. For fans of the game, Russell, who hails from Bolton, Ont. and got her start with the Toronto Nomads Rugby Club, leaves the national side following an unprecedented career in which she helped lead women’s rugby in Canada to never-before-seen heights.

She leaves the national program as a World Cup silver medallist (2014) in 15s and an Olympic Bronze medallist (2016), a Pan American Games gold medallist (2015) and a World Cup silver medallist (2013) in sevens. Behind her is a wake of success that has stirred a country and inspired a generation of women’s rugby players in Canada.

“Just to look back and see how the game has grown over the course of my career and to see where it’s at now and to see the bright future of the game – it’s all so incredibly exciting,” says Russell. “I’m proud that I’ve been part of this growth and have been able to give something to the game. I have lifelong friendships because of the game and it’s just been an incredible thing to be a part of.”

Few rugby fans will ever forget a career in which the famed No. 8 led her country to numerous history-making performances that solidified Canada amongst the elite nations in women’s rugby.

Russell, who finished her career with 53 international caps, including three World Cup appearances with the senior team, became a beacon of success of the world stage. Her career – from her first appearance on the national scene with Canada’s U19 side, to her four years playing at Western University, to her senior team debut in 2007, to her final World Cup contest a decade later – was a bright light of team triumphs and individual accolades.

The two-time Rugby Canada Women’s Fifteens Player of the Year, Russell was an instrumental figure in leading Canada to a second-place finish at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2014 in France. Knocking off the French side in an historic semifinal was a moment that earned Canada a permanent seat amongst rugby’s upper echelon.

“That semifinal was unforgettable,” says Russell, who got to play alongside her sister Laura in that game and for much of her rugby career. “It was so loud. Nobody could hear each other on the field, so we had to just trust that everyone was on the same page and to win in that environment was amazing.”

A year later, the crowd might have been even louder – except, in 2015 at the Pan American Games in Toronto, the noise was coming from those clad in red and white. A resounding win over the USA in the gold medal match secured a spot atop the podium for the home side in the first-ever women’s sevens tournament at the Pan Am Games.

“It was probably one of the craziest and loudest venues I’ve ever been a part of,” she says, fondly remembering the friendliest of confines at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. “And to have all the support for your team was very cool. Friends and family came out more than they ever could before and they got to experience that environment in person.”

It was just over a year later when Russell helped Canada taking another step on the world stage as he helped guide her team to an Olympic bronze medal in Rio. A 33-10 win over Great Britain in the bronze medal match once again made history as Canada stood on the podium following the debut of Olympic women’s rugby in Rio.

“I think the thing that sticks out for me about the bronze medal game is that we came out firing,” she says. “We were on point. We came out knowing that we were going to take the game and we felt a special connection with our team on the field. I had no doubts that we were going to take that game. As soon as we stepped on the field, it felt right and everything clicked.”

A return to the 15s game saw her cap her national team career with a fifth place finish at the World Cup in 2017. Scoring the 12^th try of her career in a comprehensive 43-12 win over Australia in the fifth-place match was a glowing way to walk away.

“In the circumstances, I couldn’t have asked for more,” she says. “I’ve very proud of the way we finished.”

And now, fresh off making more history by being part of the first-ever Barbarians women’s team, Russell is set to hang up her boots.

“Right now, it feels right for me. I’m thankful I’m doing it on my own terms and I’m just so grateful for all the people who helped me throughout my career.

“The Toronto Nomads and the Ontario club rugby system and the entire Ontario rugby union were big parts of my career and then, obviously, Rugby Canada. My family, my teammates and my friends have all been so supportive over the years and I can’t thank them enough. As for my coaches, I feel that I’ve learned something from every single one of them along the way. They instilled values in me within rugby but also within life.

“Yes, I love the game and love playing the game, but I’m happy where I’m at right now and what I’ve done.”

So is Canada.