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Canadian MacKenzie Fane moves Down Under to chase rugby league dream

After competing for Canada at the Women's Rugby League World Cup in Australia last November, MacKenzie Fane returned home and pondered her future. The former Western Ontario Mustang rugby all-star was accepted at university to continue her studies.
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After competing for Canada at the Women's Rugby League World Cup in Australia last November, MacKenzie Fane returned home and pondered her future.

The former Western Ontario Mustang rugby all-star was accepted at university to continue her studies. But rugby league was pulling at her, given the news that Australia's National Rugby League was introducing a women's division.

The 25-year-old from Holland Landing, Ont., returned Down Under in February to compete for Canada at the Rugby League Commonwealth Championship, a nine-a-side tournament.

Suddenly her mind was made up.

"When I was back in that environment, it was like 'Oh I have to.' I can't not try,'" Fane said, referencing the new women's league.

"It's such a huge opportunity. I'd hate to not do it and look back and wonder what if," she added.

Fane flew home again, finished up her job (landscaping stone work), packed and said goodbye to family and friends.

"I guess in a matter of six months, I flew back and forth to Australia five times," she said from Brisbane.

The last flight was May 3 when she landed in Brisbane, staying with an expat Canadian friend until she found a job and her own place. Fane is working construction, involved on formwork — helping set up the framework into which concrete is poured for pillars, foundation etc.

"It's given me a bit of a tan too, which is nice," said Fane. "Win-win."

She currently plays for Easts Tigers in South East Queensland Division 1, looking to make the step up to the women's NRL.

Brisbane Broncos defeated Sydney Roosters 34-12 to be crowned NRLW champions at ANZ Stadium on Sept. 29, capping off the four-team inaugural season.

Fane drew praise at a talent evaluation camp for the new league, winning kudos for her fitness and other skills. But the five-foot-nine, 180-pounder is still learning the game and has been targeting next season.

"Women's rugby (league) here is phenomenal. They're all so talented," said Fane, who's getting ready for pre-season. "They just didn't have the platform for huge amounts of people to see them and now they do. And so finally that talent and work ethic is being recognized."

Fane says the Australian reaction to her chasing her rugby league dream has been very supportive.

"Back home sometimes people would be surprised that I played rugby because I'm a girl. And I'm a girl that likes to dress up so heaven forbid you play a rough sport. But here it's much more accepted."

A back-row forward in rugby union, Fane believes she is better suited to rugby league where she play second-row and front-row. She enjoys the physicality of the 13-player code.

"That is part of the reason I play, I figure," she said.

Fane has played rugby union since she was 14, first at high school and then with the Aurora Barbarians. She went on to play for Ontario and attended several national team camps before taking a step back.

"I kind of fell out of love with the sport," she said.

Fane spent some time in Wales and played rugby "just for fun." When she returned, she played club rugby and did some coaching until she saw a posting for the Canada Ravens rugby league side and thought it might be something new.

She took part in a few training sessions in Ontario and then took a leap of faith.

"I went out (to Vancouver) on a whim and it kind of took off from there," she said.

She made the World Cup team, joining other rugby union veterans such as Mandy Marchak, Andrea Burk and Stevi Schnoor. A GoFundMe page helped raised almost $2,000 to help pay for some of her costs associated with the World Cup.

Like others on the squad, she credits coach Mike Castle and his staff for preparing a team new to the sport.

It was sink-or-swim. The Canadian women had played just one game of rugby league before taking on three-time world champion New Zealand in their World Cup opener.

The Kiwis won 50-4, outscoring the Canadians 34-0 in the second half. But Canada rallied next time out, posting its first ever international win by beating Papua New Guinea 22-8.

"It was huge," said Fane. "As much as we say we went there to learn, we're all athletes that have played at a certain level and are used to winning as well. So it was really nice to have that win.

"The odds were not stacked in our favour, I think it was 1/10 if you were placing bets. That's why it felt so good."

Canada was thumped 88-0 by eventual winner Australia in crossover play before losing to the Jillaroos again in the semifinal, this time by a 58-6 margin.

The Ravens remain close, with a Facebook messaging group.

The Canadian women, with Castle at the helm again, finished fifth at the six-team Commonwealth Championship as they tried another new version of the sport that due to its truncated nature negated one of their biggest advantages — fitness.

They lost 8-4 to Tonga and 20-12 to the Cook Islands before edging Fiji 16-12 in extra time.

 

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press