Despite the loss of the 2020 ACAA Women's Rugby Fall rookie season, Head Coach Nathan Bustard has received the commitment of his first recruit Savannah Simon of Eel Ground First Nation, NB.

The product of the Miramichi Valley High Pulamoo chooses St. Thomas for the opportunity to play the sport she loves and the feeling of family.  "Many have told me that the sense of family, togetherness, and the great support that comes from STU is like no other."

Through the recruiting process, she got to know the current team members virtually. "All the great women on the team were very welcoming with open arms. It made me feel like that is the team I want to be apart of, one who can make a new member feel wanted and confident in stepping on the rugby field with them."

Simon is looking to get the Tommies over the hump of consecutive ACAA silver medals. "Something I carry with me through the teams I’ve played for is my sense of leadership on and off the field," mentions the Team New Brunswick co-captain.

"If you help build yourself up to a strong mindset it will make you an ever stronger player."  Savannah will look to get stronger, build size, increase her foot speed to develop her game to the level of the ACAA.

Her tenacity bodes well for new Tommies coach Nathan Bustard.  "Her ability to play multiple positions and strong work-ethic makes her an immediate impact to the program and greatly adds to the depth of the team overall.”

"The coaching stafff was lucky enough to get to watch her during some exhibition games with the provincial team this fall and were immediately impressed with her on-field awareness and leadership traits that she displayed during the tournaments," mentions Coach Bustard citing the challenges of a shortened rugby recruiting window.

Savannah is a multi-tool player very capable of using her speed to create opportunities for herself, but "she really shines when directing an attack and distributing the ball," adds the coach.

Although Covid-19 cancelled the 2020 ACAA Fall season, the Tommies have been training in order to return in full force for the highly anticipated 2021 Fall schedule.