Women’s Rugby
Getting to know your U SPORTS coaches: Simon Chi, Calgary Dinos
U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our interview series “Getting to know…”
- Name: Anna Horner
- School: StFX University
- Sport: Rugby
- Position: Flanker
- Year of eligibility: 4th
- Program: Human Kinetics
- Hometown: Stouffville, Ont.
1. What attracted you to St. Francis Xavier University?
The biggest thing for me was that StFX has an amazing undergraduate reputation, but also feels like home the moment you first step on campus. Antigonish and X are both feel-good places which is something to look for when deciding where to spend four years. The fact the school is a rugby powerhouse was just a bonus.
2. What’s your favourite memory, and your greatest athletic achievement as a U SPORTS student-athlete?
My favourite memory and achievement go hand in hand, and that was winning the national championship in 2018 at Acadia. Many of our parents and alumni were there, and the environment was absolutely electric. We played with gritty determination all weekend and it was rewarding to see all of our hard work rewarded with a positive outcome.
3. Where are you hoping your path will take you after university?
I plan to pursue a career in policing.
4. Who’s had the greatest influence on your athletic career?
One hundred per cent my mom and dad. They have driven countless hours, funded it all, and loved every minute of it – those two never cease to amaze me.
5. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, with whom you’d love to have dinner with? Why?
I think I’d be crazy not to say Kathrine Switzer. She was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon when no one believed women were capable of running one. She changed everything for women in sport. Seems like a crazy cool chick to me.
6. What is your pre-game ritual? Do you have any superstitions/idiosyncrasies around preparing yourself for a game?
My teammates all make fun of me for it, but I like to have my mouth guard in my mouth, ready to go, about half an hour before a game. Don’t bash it, try it.
7. What’s your go-to song to get pumped up for practice or a game?
Baba O’Riley- The Who
8. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
@airbnb on Instagram
9. If you could try another sport, what would it be and why?
Maybe football, as much like rugby, there are so many options position wise. Understanding and knowing more than one position is so important for player development and game IQ. I love that in both rugby and football, regardless of size, there is a spot for everyone. It’s encouraging to see young athletes realizing that size does not have to be a determinant.
10. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you as an athlete?
We were travelling to PEI from Nova Scotia in my first year, and Coach Mike Cavanagh jokingly asked if everyone had their passports with them. I was worried and turned to some of the other rookies and asked them if they had theirs, and was immediately roasted. (Joke is stale Mike)!