CALGARY – University of Calgary female athlete of the year DaLeaka Menin is headed to Ireland as part of Team Canada for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup, Rugby Canada announced Wednesday.

Menin, the 2016 U SPORTS women's rugby player of the year, was among 28 players named to Team Canada Wednesday and will be one of 10 players making their World Cup debut in Dublin. Pool play begins Aug. 9 when Canada faces Hong Kong, followed by fixtures with Wales on Aug. 13 and New Zealand on Aug. 17.

A native of Vulcan, Alta., Menin was a co-captain of the Dinos squad that finished the best season in program history last year. The 22-year-old helped lead the Dinos to their first-ever Canada West championship and a bronze medal at the U SPORTS championship in 15s, then powered the program to top spot in the inaugural Canada West Rugby 7s series. For her efforts, Menin was named an All-Canadian for the third time in her career, adding Canada West and U SPORTS player-of-the-year honours as well. In April, she was the first athlete in women's rugby history to earn the Dr. Dennis Kadatz award as the Dinos' female athlete of the year.

Menin will make her World Cup debut in 2017, but she has collected six caps with the senior national team to date.

Menin, a Law and Society student in UCalgary's Faculty of Arts,  will return to the Dinos this fall for her fifth year of eligibility. The regular season gets underway Thursday, Sept. 21 when the Dinos visit Lethbridge, followed by away matches at Alberta, UBC, and Victoria. Calgary will have the chance to defend its conference title when the Dinos host the 2017 Canada West championship Oct. 20-22 at Hellard Field and McMahon Stadium.

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