Former Mustang Kelly Russell has been selected as captain for Team Canada at this year's Women's Rugby World Cup, which is being held in France from August 1-17. A Bolton, Ont., native, Russell joined the Western rugby program in 2005 and went on to lead an extremely successful intercollegiate career. In her four seasons with the purple and white Russell helped lead the Mustangs to both OUA and CIS Championship titles in 2005, OUA silver medals in both 2006 and 2008, and a 2007 OUA gold medal. The former captain of the Mustangs also earned many individual honours including multiple Western team MVP awards and OUA All-Star nominations. In her final season she was named not only the 2008-09 OUA Shiels Division Player of the Year, but also a CIS All-Canadian and a winner of the Western Purple Blanket.

Russell is no stranger to playing at the international stage; she heads into this year's world cup with 35 appearances for Canada under her belt, the first of which was in 2007. She has represented Canada at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, where she was named to the ScrumQueens All-Star team, as well as at two Women's 7s World Cups. In 2013, Russell was named the Rugby Canada Women's Fifteens Player of the Year.

"I am so excited for Kelly and proud of all her accomplishments.  From the moment she stepped on to the field at Western as a Mustang, Kelly had her sights set on the senior national program," said Mustangs head coach Natascha Wesch on Russell being appointed as captain for Team Canada. "Kelly is, and always has been, a strong leader and a dominant player on the field. We are so proud of her and we wish her and her teammates the very best at the World Cup!"

Joining Russell on Team Canada in France this year is her younger sister Laura Russell, who is also a former Mustang. Playing for Western from 2006-09, Laura Russell also led a successful career with the purple and white, being named a CIS All-Canadian in both 2008 and 2009, as well as earning the 2009 OUA Shiels Division Player of the Year Award and multiple OUA All-Star nominations. She finished off her intercollegiate career as a winner of the Western Purple Blanket Award. Russell also has international experience, including playing for Team Canada at the 2010 FISU Championships. Two other Western alumni join the sisters at this year's World Cup, with former Mustangs Barbara Mervin and Latoya Blackwood also listed on the roster for Team Canada.
 
UPDATE: Team Canada won their opening match against Spain on Friday by a result of 31-7. More results and upcoming match schedules can be found here.