Providence College set to add rugby next fall

Providence College continues to add sports programs to their offerings.

With Cross Country, Curling and now rugby, the Pilots are set to add three new sports during the fall 2026 semester.

Providence will play Rugby 7s in the Prairie University Women’s Rugby Conference, with the aim of playing 15s next year. Isi Masi, who played high-level rugby in Austrailia and Manitoba and coaches the Eastman Warriors women’s rugby team, will head up the program.

Athletic director Joel Coursey said Masi is the perfect coach to build a strong culture around the sport at the school.

“I am very excited about this opportunity and very honoured to help pilot the program at Providence,” Masi said in a Providence news release.

“Rugby is a beautiful sport, and I believe it builds connection, character, and community. One of my coaching philosophies is to win with confidence and lose with pride,” Masi added. “It’s about giving everything you have, representing your team with character, and growing through every result.”

Providence will join Brandon University, the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan Mount Royal University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in the PUWRC.

“Launching women’s rugby is an exciting moment for Providence Athletics,” Coursey said.

“Rugby brings together toughness, teamwork, and character—qualities that align closely with who we are as Pilots. Starting in 7s gives us a strong, competitive entry point in the PUWRC, and our plan to expand into 15s reflects our commitment to long-term program growth.”

Steinbach Regional Secondary School is a 7s powerhouse in the Winnipeg high school league, and Providence are hoping to recruit quickly to fill up the team.