VANCOUVER – Former UBC Thunderbirds women's rugby player Kim Donaldson helped Canada make history at the IRB Women's World Cup in France.
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Canada lost 21-9 to England in the championship final on Sunday at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, but the second-place finish is still the best performance ever by the national team at the Women's World Cup. The women's squad is also the first team in Canadian rugby history to make a World Cup final.
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Donaldson, a Toronto native, started four of five games at the tournament as the team finished 3-1-1. Canada beat Spain and Samoa before tying England in pool play. The team then went on to upset hosts France in an exciting semifinal match 18-16.
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Donaldson is one of 26 women named to the Canadian roster and one of seven who return from the squad that finished sixth at the 2010 World Cup in England. She also participated in the 2006 World Cup in Edmonton.
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She was one of the best players in the CIS during the early and mid 2000s, winning All-Canadian honours twice and a spot on the Canada West All-Star team four times. Donaldson was instrumental in helping UBC qualify for the 2003 CIS women's rugby championship in Sherwood Park, Alta. She graduated from the school with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology.
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After finishing her playing eligibility in university, Donaldson continued helping the UBC women's rugby program by serving as an assistant coach.
She debuted with Canada's fifteen's team in June 2005 against the USA.
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- with files from Rugby Canada
