Sister act
Ryan and Mackenzie Bell on opposite sides in university rugby
Ryan Bell had some advice to give when her younger sister was getting ready to start playing rugby at St. Francis Xavier University.
“I told Mackenzie to always work hard, and whether she’s starting or sitting on the bench, to always play like you want to be there,” she said.
“It’s definitely a lot more work on you. I went from three practices a week in high school, to 7 a.m. practices for two hours every day (at Saint Mary’s University).”
Ryan is in her fourth year of rugby at Saint Mary’s, where she studies biology, with a diploma in forensic science. Mackenzie graduated from NNEC this past June and is working toward a Bachelor of Science.
The two schools met for a game earlier this month, but Mackenzie did not dress for St. F.X., a traditional women’s rugby power who enjoyed a 130-5 victory that night over the Huskies.
The stacked St. F.X. ruggers can afford to develop young players at a good pace, as they get accustomed to the university game.
“I’m the youngest at my position,” Mackenzie said, “so I didn’t expect to get in right away. Hopefully, I will soon.”
Teenagers who join the university rugby ranks aren’t playing against girls anymore, they’re up against women who are, in many instances, bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced than anything they’d seen before.
Ryan said the university game forces young players to have to think and move with greater urgency.
“Everybody knows what they’re doing, the pace is a lot faster. You just have to get in there. I’ve had girls on my team who were 27 years old – the experience barrier can be pretty wide.” Her sister concurred. “They push you to your limits. Especially with this team, it’s a lot more intense. You learn a lot at practice and you’ve got to keep up with the play (but) I think I’ve improved a lot and it’s nice the school has such a good background,” in rugby.
The teams will meet again Oct. 5 in Halifax and Ryan hopes to see her sister on the field, and would have no qualms about dishing out some punishment on little sis.
“You’ve got to put the sister thing aside,” she laughed,
“I’d have to approach it like she’s any other girl.”
The SMU team has several other Pictou County players: Isabelle Bennett from New Glasgow, Morgan Carruthers from Westville, Kathryn Steeves of Stellarton and New Glasgow’s Hannah Wallace. Trenton’s Keeley MacCuish is also listed on the St. F.X. roster.