Panthers add speed and star potential in local standout Alanna Mabey

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Women's Rugby Panthers expect to be more than just a one-hit wonder.

But in order to do that, they need to replenish the high-end talent that led them to an AUS championship in 2022. 

Head coach James Voye believes local standout Alanna Mabey fits the mould of a core player who can help a program sustain its winning ways. 

Voye has been keeping close tabs on Mabey for awhile now and it was important for him to keep one of the better Island talents on home soil.

Most recently, the two of them represented Team PEI in Rugby Sevens at the 2022 Summer Canada Games in Niagara, where they finished in sixth place. 

"Alanna has the potential to earn a jersey in her first season, and with hard work and dedication, I can see her being an all-star in the AUS," Voye said. "I'm confident in her ability defensively to make tackles and I know she has the rugby IQ to assist in running the team's attack." 

Mabey's most enticing attribute is her speed. The 17-year-old from Stratford joins a group of fly and scrum halfs who bring a lot of speed along the edges and are difficult to contain when they have the ball in their hands.

"On offence, I can often get by defenders and open up support lines for my teammates," Mabey said. "On the defensive side, my speed allows me to catch up to players that have beaten the defensive line, and I can react quickly to jackal if the opportunity is there." 

Mabey, a dual-sport athlete with the Charlottetown Rural Raiders, says her basketball skills—such as anticipating and reading plays—should help her on the pitch, especially on the defensive end.

"Analyzing a play, allows me to pick off passes and mess up what an opponent is trying to run," she said. "In rugby, knowing what the other team is trying to do helps me know when to blitz on defence and potentially pick off their passes or interrupt it in some way."

Mabey, who followed UPEI's historic 2022 season closely, said her familiarity with the Panthers and the fact that they are defending AUS champions made UPEI an obvious choice.

"The most impressive thing about their championship season was the consistency they displayed," she said. "From their first game against Concordia to playing in nationals in BC, the entire season was exciting to watch."

Like those before her, she'll now get a chance to cement herself in UPEI history and become a pivotal piece to a team that expects to win.

"I plan to give Alanna an opportunity in a few different positions to make a difference as a rookie," Voye said. "She understands the time and commitment it takes to be a varsity athlete, and we have no doubt she'll be a positive addition to the culture we've built here."