The McGill Martlets women's rugby team has launched a desperate, last-minute fundraising campaign in a bid to save their program from being axed. The team is one of 25 varsity squads at the prestigious Montreal university slated for discontinuation ahead of the 2026-27 season.
A Legacy Under Threat
In November, McGill University announced it would be discontinuing a significant number of varsity teams across 15 different sports. The decision was attributed to severe pressures related to facility space, budget constraints, and human resources capacity. Many observers link these challenges directly to recent Quebec government decisions that have impacted the university's revenue streams.
The threatened teams include programs with deep histories, such as the 125-year-old track and field team, alongside women's lacrosse and field hockey, men's volleyball, and co-ed tennis. However, the potential loss of the Martlets rugby program carries a particular weight for advocates of women's sports.
The Fight to Preserve a Sisterhood
Former player and McGill alumna Briana Yerbury is spearheading the effort to save the team she credits with shaping her character. "Rugby really made me who I am," Yerbury stated. "It instilled the best values in me: resilience, sacrifice and perseverance." She emphasizes the unique bond formed in the full-contact sport, where athletes literally put their bodies on the line for each other.
The team's GoFundMe campaign, which concludes this Sunday, warns that without immediate support, the university risks losing a fifty-year legacy, a sisterhood, and a life-changing student-athlete experience that has shaped generations of women. For many student-athletes, the existence of these varsity programs was a key factor in their decision to attend McGill and move to Montreal.
Broader Implications for Sports and Education
The cuts at McGill are not happening in a vacuum. Experts warn that the disappearance of women's university teams directly contributes to lower sports participation rates for girls and women across Canada. Despite advances, gender equality in Canadian athletics remains elusive, with girls continuing to fall behind boys in sports involvement.
Furthermore, these short-sighted cuts could have a ripple effect on athletic development at the provincial and national levels. University facilities and coaching have long served as critical pipelines for Olympic and national-calibre athletes. The erosion of these programs stamps out potential and hobbles future athletic development in ways that are difficult to measure but profoundly felt.
The situation serves as a stark reminder that government budget cuts and policy decisions affecting higher education institutions have tangible, far-reaching consequences. They impact not just academics, but also student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and the broader sports ecosystem.
As the deadline for the fundraiser looms, the Martlets are embodying the very resilience the sport teaches. The campaign is a final, determined scrum to preserve a cherished institution. Information about the fundraiser can be found at tinyurl.com/martlets.
