Saint John prop Kiley Brow commits to UPEI Rugby

By Thomas Becker 

The last time the UPEI Women's Rugby Panthers recruited a prop from Saint John, NB it turned out to be a good fit for both player and team. 

That player was AUS all-star and U SPORTS all-Canadian Emily Duffy, who was a critical piece to the 2022 championship team. 

The Panthers and head coach James Voye are hoping to strike gold again in 17-year-old Kiley Brow, a Saint John native who also happens to play the prop position. 

"Kiley fits perfectly into our team culture. She is an athlete committed to high-performance training and is a driven player," Voye said. "Kiley will certainly play a role next season when we attempt to defend our AUS championship."

Like Duffy, Brow brings championship pedigree. She headlined an under-17 New Brunswick Spruce team that won back-to-back Atlantic rugby championships.

Brow and Duffy's rugby careers share many parallels and have helped them form a strong bond that could pay dividends on the pitch in 2023. Brow said Duffy has spoken highly of the program and invited her to visit the campus to get a taste of what it means to be a Panther.

"She invited me to campus to see the school and what the team atmosphere is all about," said Brow, who will be studying kinesiology at UPEI. "She was a big influence in my decision, as I played with her on the Saint John Trojans. She always shared positive stories and memories from her time at UPEI."

Brow said she followed UPEI's journey to AUS supremacy closely and was impressed with how they competed for one another.

"Every game I watched in person or online, I noticed every try was a team try. The team worked as a unit to move the ball, and there was always positive feedback coming from the bench."

The AUS championship solidified her decision to commit to UPEI.

"When they won, I felt proud to be a future Panther. Seeing the players work so hard and overcome so much, and finally being rewarded after years of building the program to what it is now was inspiring."

To defend their title, Voye has his work cut out, as he has plenty of holes to fill on the roster and starting lineup. With all-star Frances MacWilliam finishing up her UPEI career, Brow will compete for the starting prop spot alongside Duffy.

"Kiley will definitely be fighting for some starts in her first season. She is a player ready and capable of making an impact on my top-25 roster and will be given that opportunity," Voye said. "Kiley is a player who excels as a ball carrier. She uses her strength, speed, and footwork to fend off defenders, which allows her to go on big line breaks throughout the match. She also brings a high level of intensity and aggression on defence."