Victoria’s Sophie de Goede will return home this summer to support the next generation of rugby players, joining a high-performance youth camp Aug. 9–14 as a guest coach. The camp will be held at St. Michaels University School's Richmond Road campus.
A graduate of Oak Bay High School, de Goede captained Canada at the Rugby World Cup and helped the national team to a silver medal finish in 2025. She was later named World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year, Sport BC’s Senior Athlete of the Year and Greater Victoria’s Women’s Athlete of the Year recognizing her as one of the top players in the sport globally.
The upcoming camp, which includes both day and overnight options, is run in partnership with Gainline Sport Coaching and is expected to draw participants from the Lower Mainland and across Western Canada.
Throughout the five-day August camp, de Goede will provide on-field instruction and share her experience as a member of Canada’s national women’s team, offering insight into high-performance training and international competition.
“I’m so grateful to be able to come home and give back to community rugby,” highlighted de Goede. “I had so many great opportunities growing up on the island, and I’m excited to offer one back to the next generation.”
The camp will be led by Scott Manning, head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes men’s rugby program, as well as Aaron Takel, who served as a performance analyst with Rugby Canada and worked as technical director for both Rugby Alberta and BC Rugby. The camp will also feature coaches, additional high-performance coaches and current national team players.
The camp’s reputation as one of Canada’s premier rugby development experiences was evident in the strength and diversity of this year’s roster. Grounded in the philosophy of G.A.I.N — Growth, Awareness, Innovation, Nurture, the program continues to focus on shaping complete athletes and coaches. Many of the players left not only with stronger skills, but also with the inspiration to step into coaching roles themselves one day.
“This camp is about helping athletes see what’s possible for them in the sport,” said Manning. “With players coming from across the country and staying on campus, it creates an immersive environment where they can learn, build confidence and start to see the game in a different way. Having someone like Sophie, who grew up here and has gone on to the highest level, brings an added level of inspiration that makes the experience especially meaningful for our athletes.”
de Goede’s involvement also reflects continued efforts to grow participation in girls’ rugby, following the recent expansion of female athlete programming within the camp.
Rugby Camp Details:
- Who: Co-Ed rugby athletes (ages 13–17)
- What: High-performance, co-ed rugby camp with overnight option
- Where: St. Michaels University School, Victoria, B.C.
- When: August 9–14, 2026
- Additional: Camp delivered in partnership with Gainline Sports; includes national team players and high-performance coaches
Players at Rugby Overnight Camp 2025
Players and Coaches at Rugby Overnight Camp 2025
Players at Rugby Overnight Camp 2025
