With genes like these, how can you lose?
Sophie de Goede of Victoria has signed a pro rugby contract with defending English Premier League champion Saracens.
The rugby DNA runs deep. The sport is practically ingrained in her. Dad Hans de Goede came out of Vic High and James Bay Athletic Association to captain Canada in the first men’s World Cup in 1987 while mom Stephanie White captained Canada in the first women’s World Cup. Both parents are considered Canadian rugby legends. Sophie de Goede will follow them onto the global stage with No. 3 Canada at the 2021 women’s World Cup next fall in New Zealand. She earned the first four, of what should be many caps for Canada, last year in the Super Series tournament against the U.S., England, New Zealand and France in Chula Vista, California. De Geode earned her first cap and first international try against New Zealand and then gave a further glimpse of what is to come in her career with 11 points on a penalty kick and four converts in a 36-19 win over France.
The Saracens believe they have found a gem in the 21-year-old, six-foot Islander. Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry, in a statement, described de Goede as a
“hugely influential international” and added “I have long been an admirer of Sophie having first seen her play in an U-18 international fixture. Her athleticism, power, unique skill set and leadership were evident even then. Her talent was already very obvious. I kept an eye on her progression and it was not long before she established herself as a senior Maple Leaf already hugely influential on the field and very impressive off the field.”
De Goede, who plays No. 8 and can also kick for points, has said rugby was a natural topic of kitchen table conversation. That often spilled over into the living room: “We watched a lot of rugby. We would just throw on tapes on the TV. My parents never force advice on me, but I’m always asking them for it. They have so much experience. I love listening to stories about their playing days.”
But they left it up to their child. And they will be the first to say she did it by herself.
“My parents never pressured me to play. They were always encouraging me to do whatever activities I wanted. That’s why I played so many different sports growing up,” Sophie told the Times Colonist last year.
Taking that multi-pronged approach, de Goede became a vaunted all-round athlete at Oak Bay Secondary, and starred also in basketball. She continued as a rare two-sport varsity athlete at the U Sports level, in rugby and basketball, while studying for her commerce degree during three years at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and was named Queen’s female athlete of the year for 2019-20. She was named U Sports female rugby top rookie in her first season and is a three-time all-Canadian selection. Doing it all from field to court, de Goede averaged 12.5 points per game last season as a forward for the Queen’s basketball team.
De Goede came up through the Castaways Wanderers club, along with Tokyo Olympics-bound Canadian rugby sevens player Caroline Crossley.
“Sophie has such unbelievable parents who supported her,” said Castaway Wanderers manager Brent Johnston.
“She is so approachable off the pitch yet so steely-eyed in games.”
Now she is anxiously anticipating the start to her pro career.
“I am incredibly excited to be joining the Saracens family this year. The opportunity to join a club with such a rich history of women’s rugby is very special,” said de Goede, in a statement.
“I look forward to being in a challenging daily training environment and competing for Saracens to bring home another Premier 15s championship.”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com