Looking to bolster the women's rugby team, Brock head coach Adrian Brown has brought in an impressive 14 new recruits for the upcoming season.
"We are thrilled to have this amount of depth and talent in a single recruit class," Brown said. "Able to make an immediate impact on and off the field, this group contains an immense amount of ability, leadership and work ethic."
The Badgers announced the 2025 recruiting class Thursday, July 24, which includes Taylor Bulgin, Charli Burgoyne, Sierra Costello, Abi Courchene, Sydney Frost, Madisyn Lecompte, Chloe Mulliss, Avery Parris, Bree Ross-Lintner, Lauren Smith, Isabella Spencer-Thompson, Victoria Stuart, Sierra Thompson and Lily Vandenhoek.
"There are athletes who have won and medalled at Ontario high school provincials, represented Ontario, been selected for under-18 Canada camps and had success at regional and club levels," Brown added. "We are incredibly excited to see the impact and development of this group as they join our Badgers family."
Bulgin is a six-foot tight five from Kitchener, Ont., who brings a wealth of experience after spending four seasons with the Laurier Golden Hawks.
The incoming Master of Education grad student served as a captain for Laurier, and she was named a 2024 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Second Team All-Star selection.
At the club level, Bulgin has played for the Brantford Harlequins Rugby Football Club (RFC) and Waterloo County Rugby Football Club (RFC).
"I'm most looking forward to another year of grueling training camp, practices every day and ultimately trusting the process to bring us success this coming season," Bulgin said. "Even though I'm only here for one year, I'm looking forward to being part of this group and putting everything I can forward to help leave the jersey better than I found it."
A winger the Badgers have added is Burgoyne, a 5-8 Grimsby product, who is set to study Concurrent Teacher Education at Brock University.
In 2024, Burgoyne was selected to the Niagara Rugby Union (NRU) 2 team that competed at the Ontario Summer Games.
After playing one season with Grimsby RFC, she is set to suit up for the Brantford Harlequins this coming season and represent NRU at the U19 level.
"I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to learn from skilled athletes and experienced coaches at Brock," Burgoyne said. "Their expertise and dedication to the sport of rugby will provide me with guidance and mentorship, allowing me to refine my own skills, improve my performance and better understand the game."
Costello is a 5-6 back three from Burlington, Ont.
Despite not having a school rugby team, the incoming Kinesiology major has thrived in the sport, first playing with Waterloo County RFC and representing NRU the past two seasons.
She is another member of NRU 2 team that attended the 2024 Ontario Summer Games.
"Brock has an amazing elite rugby team and a beautiful campus," Costello said. "I was intrigued by the amazing team atmosphere, and I loved the energy and environment around the team."
The scrum for the Badgers will be bolstered by the signing of Courchene, a 5-9 prop.
The Ohsweken, Ont., product played both rugby and hockey in high school and has played club rugby with the Brantford Harlequins at the U16 and U18 levels.
In 2023, Courchene won a gold medal with Team Ontario at the U16 Western Rugby National Championships.
"I'm attending Brock University because it offers a good balance between strong academics and the supportive faculty," Courchene said. "I was drawn to the co-op opportunities in the Biological Sciences program, which gives me real-world experience while studying."
Frost, who plays both as a back three and centre, is joining the Badgers from Pickering Ont.
With the Oshawa Vikings, Frost won a U18 provincial title during the summer of 2024.
Prior to playing rugby, the incoming Sociology major spent 10 years participating in all-star cheerleading.
"Despite the fact that I am new to the sport of rugby, the coaches and team have been very welcoming and encouraging," Frost said. "I am sure I am going to learn a lot, helping me become the best athlete I can be."
Another prop the Badgers have signed is Lecompte, a product of Guelph, Ont., and John F. Ross High School.
At the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Championships in Grade 11, Lecompte won a gold medal. She also competed at both the rugby and wrestling championships during her final high school season.
After previously playing for the Southwest Rugby Union and Fergus Highland Rugby Club, she will take her talents this summer to the Guelph Rugby Club.
"When choosing to attend Brock for the fall, I was drawn towards the Concurrent Education program and of course the possibility of being a part of the women's rugby team," Lecompte said. "The high level of competition that Brock has to offer within the women's university program made the decision easy."
Hailing from Brampton, Ont., Mulliss brings experience as a three-time OFSAA AAA medallist with Mayfield Secondary School.
In 2022 and 2023, the 5-10 centre, won gold medals, while most recently in 2025, she added a silver medal to the trophy case.
On the club side, Mulliss has played for the Barrie Rugby Club and the North Halton Highlanders.
"I wanted to continue my years playing rugby at a high level, and this was the next step. I wanted to take the challenge," Mullis said. "I heard from my friends who play on the Brock rugby team about how amazing the envrionment and people are."
Parris is another Pickering, Ont., native who will wear the Badgers red this season.
The 5-5 centre has played for the Ajax Wanderers and the Oshawa Vikings, where she won a U18 club championship in 2024.
Before playing rugby, Parris was a competitive swimmer for seven years.
"When I first visited Brock, I had an instant feeling of belonging as well as the coaches and teammates making me feel comfortable," Parris said. "I am excited to see how I improve as a player and to meet my new teammates but also to see how far my team goes."
Ross-Lintner joins multiple other incoming Badgers recruits who were on the U16 Ontario team that won gold at the 2023 Western Rugby National Championships.
With the Oshawa Vikings, Ross-Lintner won a U18 club championship in 2024, and she was selected to the Toronto Rugby Union (TRU) team that competed at the Ontario Summer Games that same year.
The 5-10 tight five player is from Oshawa, Ont., and is planning to study Kinesiology at the University.
"The coaching staff are committed to working with the players to help them develop in the best way possible," Ross-Lintner said. "Most importantly, Brock provides great academic programs with experiential learning opportunities and academic support, and I feel this environment will really set me up for success both on and off the field."
Smith, a 5-2 scrum half from Melancthon, Ont., has had an illustrious high school career at Centre Dufferin District High School, winning two silver medals and two bronze medals at OFSAA with the women's rugby team.
Having started playing club rugby at the U16 level, Smith has accomplished multiple accolades including winning a gold medal at the U16 Western National Rugby Championships and earning a gold and bronze medal at the Ontario Summer Games with NRU.
The future Critical Criminology major has also started to play at the senior level with the Brantford Harlequins and was invited to attend the U18 Team Canada Elite Camp.
Lauren joins her sister Jordan, a captain on the Brock women's rugby team, as part of the only two women's rugby sevens teams to have represented Ontario at the Canada Summer Games. This year's edition takes place Aug. 8 to 23 in St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I want to come to Brock because of the program options and the opportunities within sports," Smith said. "The Brock Badgers varsity team has a great weightlifting program, and the team makes you feel welcome."
Spencer-Thompson offers positional versatility for the Badgers as a centre and flanker.
The last three years, the Bradford, Ont., native has played for the Aurora Barbarians and Nantyr Shores Secondary School.
Along with rugby, Spencer-Thompson spent seven years as a competitive dancer.
"I chose Brock for its highly competitive Sports Management program and of course the amazing rugby culture," Spencer-Thompson said. "It looks like such a family, and I can't wait to join."
A multi-sport athlete, Stuart joins the Badgers from Oakville, Ont., and Iroquois Ridge High School where she played basketball, hockey, rugby, touch football and volleyball.
Another member of the U16 Ontario team that won gold in 2023, the 5-11 eight man/lock has also represented NRU twice at the Ontario Summer Games, winning gold in 2022 and more recently in 2024.
She has also been a member of the Team Canada U18 Camp and plans to pursue a degree in Business Administration.
"I was most intrigued by the growth potential I saw in the program and the high level of commitment from the coaching staff," Stuart said. "It was clear that everyone involved was dedicated to building something special, and I wanted to be a part of that."
Thompson, a 5-7 tight five, comes from Brantford, Ont., and brings multiple years of experience with the Brantford Harlequins.
Like many of her future teammates, the incoming Kinesiology major won a U16 national title at the Western Canada National Rugby Championships in 2023 with Team Ontario, and she represented NRU at the 2024 Ontario Summer Games.
Thompson has also moved up to the senior division with the Brantford Harlequins having started there at the U16 level, and she attended a U18 Canada camp.
"I know that being a part of the rugby program will provide me with the tools and coaching I need to be able to take my rugby career to the next level," Thompson said. "The team is so welcoming, and the atmosphere is amazing."
Rounding out the recruiting class is Vandenhoek, a 5-6 flanker from Caledon, Ont., who has represented Canada twice at the U18 level.
She also earned a U20 invite to Team Canada and is the final member of Brock recruiting class that was on the U16 national championship Team Ontario squad, where she was a captain.
At Mayfield Secondary School, Vandenhoek won two OFSAA AAA gold medals in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024, she earned a second-place finish.
Vandenhoek has also represented the NRU twice at the Ontario Summer Games, claiming gold in 2022 and a bronze in 2024.
"I am coming to Brock for their outstanding Concurrent Education program and the reputation of its rugby team," Vandenhoek said. "There is a positive and uplifting environment here and a strong sense of community."
The Badgers are coming off their sixth consecutive appearance in the OUA semifinal round and are hoping these recruits can help propel them further into the postseason.
