Dinos alumnae continue to shine with Rugby Canada

CALGARY – While the Dinos season wrapped up back in the Spring, that hasn't stopped the continued success of the University of Calgary women's rugby program.

A number of Dinos alums have continued to make their mark internationally this summer, carrying on a strong legacy for the program.

DaLeaka Menin and Emily Tuttosi continued their successful run at the sport's highest levels. Coming off an incredibly strong showing at the Women's World Cup where they helped Team Canada to a fourth-place finish, the former Dinos teammates again represented their home nation at the World Rugby Pacific Four Series in Ottawa. 

Carrying on the strong Dinos tradition, a current player was also invited to camp in preparation for the PAC4 Series. Fourth-year Lock Ashlynn Smith was one of four U SPORTS players to earn an invite to the pre-tournament camp of 40 players and cracked the series roster as well.

A trio of former Dinos have spent part of their summer training with Team Canada in Victoria, B.C. as part of the national rugby 7s team. Angie Olukunmi, Julia Omokhuale and Taejah Thompson all spent time training out west this summer and are looking to continue their young careers with the national team.

For Omokhuale, she will finish out the month of July out east, taking part in Team Canada's U23 Women's Border Battle. The two-time Canada West All-Star earned a spot on the 25-player roster for the two contests against the United States, taking place in Massachusetts.

In addition to all the national team news, several Dinos alums are continuing their careers at the professional level.

Menin and Tuttosi both play professionally in England for the Exeter Chiefs in the Allianz Premier 15s league, while former Calgary standout Temitope Ogunjimi just wrapped up her season in Japan with the Nagano Blue Angels and is spending her summer in the States in Minnesota, playing for the Loonies in the PR7s (Premier Rugby Sevens) league.

The upcoming Dinos season schedule was announced earlier this summer and the season opener is just around the corner, opening up Sept. 1 at Alberta.