St. Thomas University women’s rugby head coach Meghan Morrison has made the decision to step down as head coach for the upcoming season.  Morrison spent two years with the Tommies as an assistant coach, and then took over as head coach in 2014.

She has valuable rugby experience as both a coach and player, as she was captain for the Fredericton Loyalists Rugby Club, the New Brunswick Rugby Union Provincial team, and the University of New Brunswick. She was also a part of the executive board for both UNB and the Fredericton Loyalists Rugby Club. Morrison feels after seven years as a member of the Tommie’s coaching staff, and having worked in partnership with assistant coach Stephanie Carey over the last five years, it isn’t easy stepping away from the STU rugby program.

“We have been fortunate to have an opportunity to work with the women’s team during a period of program growth and have had some excellent successes, with the team playing in conference finals each of the last five years,” said Morrison. “We feel proud of the culture we have built, the quality of rugby we have developed in our time with STU and the impact our players have been able to have on and off the field.”

Carey has been with Morrison every step of the way as a coach with STU and has been playing rugby for 11 years. She has played at club, university and provincial levels and she continues to play for the Fredericton Loyalists RFC.

“Both Stephanie and I have some changes coming in our personal lives,” said Morrison. “Stephanie and her husband Philip are expecting their first child, and I am preparing to take on larger roles both through work, and in my involvement with the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival.”

These commitments, for both coaches, will make it difficult to invest the time that is required to help this program continue to grow. Morrison and Carey still feel very connected to the school and this rugby program as a whole.

“I am very happy to have played a part in the long, proud tradition of rugby at STU,” said Morrison. “Stephanie and I will remain supportive and engaged with the success of this great group of athletes.”

Michael Eagles, Athletic Director at the university, feels the program really developed by having such a well-rounded coaching staff and that they will be missed.

“Meghan has done tremendous work building our program. We have been very fortunate to have her and Stephanie Carey as our coaches. We will miss them greatly. The players have been very fortunate to have coaches that put their heart and soul in the program.”

Eagles will look to fill the role of head coach in advance of the start of the New Brunswick high school rugby season. Any interested parties can reach out through email at meagles@stu.ca.

With the parting of both these coaches the connection will remain the same, as anybody involved with the university would say, “Once a Tommie, always a Tommie”.