(Quebec) A university women’s rugby match, on a cold November evening, in the middle of spring break, is a difficult event to promote. In fact, even when the sun is shining and the campus is teeming with people, the Rouge et Or team from Laval University struggles to attract a hundred spectators – relatives included.
So imagine the joy of the players on Wednesday evening when 3,577 people showed up for their game against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at Telus Stadium. Yes, yes, 3577 counted. Never seen before here. Not fair to this team. Just for Quebec university women’s sport, we were told.
PHOTO ERICK LABBÉ, THE SUN
Trailing 5-0 for a good part of the match, the Rouge et Or players finally won 7-5.
How to explain this sudden enthusiasm?
It all started in September 2,000 miles from here, at the University of Nebraska. The establishment has launched an initiative to break the world attendance record for a women’s sporting event. More than 92,000 spectators came to cheer on the local volleyball team. A remarkable stroke of brilliance. Two days later, I challenged the universities and CEGEPs here to mobilize their students around a match of one of their women’s teams.
The management of Laval University responded to the call. She organized a big event around her rugby team, which is defending its title of Canadian champion this week in Quebec.
Sending emails. Press conference. Social media posts. The Red and Gold turned over all the stones. Even Prime Minister François Legault promoted the match. An hour before the first whistle, about fifty fans gathered in the parking lot for a barbecue, like during the football team’s games. Except that half an hour before the match, there weren’t many more people in the stadium. What if the cold was going to trap people in their homes?
It was then that the spectators arrived like a wave.
No.
Like a tsunami.
Children. Students. Thirties. Grandparents. Bundled up. Made up. Sit on the icy benches in the southern sections, or stand along the sidelines. There was also a line in front of the Maison Smith food truck to order a coffee or hot chocolate. On the field, the cheerleading team was busy.
Then the Rouge et Or players jumped onto the field, smiling, motivated by the cries of the crowd, the sound of horns and the ringing of cow bells. A supercharged atmosphere, worthy of Friday Night Lights.
“When we entered the stadium, the warmth of the crowd warmed us up,” Alice Théberge told me. That encouraged me. It boosted us. To see students, parents, teachers, so many people coming around, it was touching. I felt proud for all the girls who played before, and for all those who are coming, to see all these people interested in women’s sport. »
His teammate Laurence Chabot was just as moved. “Our team is taking up more and more space within the organization and in the media. It shows an interest in women’s sport. It’s very positive.
“I come from Victoriaville. There are plenty of high school buses from Victoriaville that traveled to Quebec for the game. It really means a lot to me. My high school [Le Boisé] advertised for people to come. My brother Julien works in a school. He filled two buses to come see the game. In Quebec, you grew up with the Rouge et Or. You talk about football. You come to watch basketball, volleyball. But in Victo, we don’t have a university or university sports. So to see that…”
Cloé Maranda was happy to meet people who rarely attend her matches. In particular “friends of [s]“My parents, who came from Baie-Comeau.”
From Baie-Comeau???
” Yes ! This match is the happening for the Marandas [rire]. »
The organizers were obviously delighted with the response from the public. “We are currently seeing a decline in physical activity among adolescent girls, and young girls sometimes lack role models,” emphasizes the director of the sports department at Laval University, Julie Dionne. Indeed. According to the latest available studies, Quebec women are the least active teenagers in the country. “A match like this can increase their interest in the sport. »
PHOTO ERICK LABBÉ, THE SUN
The Rouge et Or will therefore continue its journey at the Canadian Championship on Friday, at 7 p.m.
And this match, precisely? Who won it?
It was 5-0 for a long time for the visitors. Then at 60e minute, Léa Ouellet scored a try to create the tie. Audrey Champagne then converted to give a 7-5 lead that the Rouge et Or kept until the end. In the stands, there was euphoria. Several spectators gathered near the field at the end to take photos of the players. It was magical.
The Rouge et Or will therefore continue its journey at the Canadian Championship on Friday, at 7 p.m. And if, for this second match, there are fewer people, how will you react, asked a colleague of Léa Ouellet?
“We are going to be so disappointed,” she said, with the most beautiful smile of the evening.
The Canadian Championship continues until Sunday at Telus Stadium.