P.E.I.s Sarah Bain welcomes leadership role on rugby pitch

Sarah Bain carries the ball for the UPEI Panthers in an Atlantic University Sport Women’s Rugby Conference game last season. The Panthers host the Acadia Axewomen in their home opener at MacAdam Field on the UPEI campus in Charlottetown on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. Photo by Janessa Vanden Broek/UPEI Athletics /Special to The GuardianArticle contentSarah Bain’s rugby career with the UPEI Panthers has come full circle.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentFrom biding her time as a rookie and awaiting a chance to play to a starter and co-captain in her fourth year, Bain is now one of the team leaders, on and off the pitch.Article contentArticle content“She brings a ton (to the team),” said Curtis Lauzon, who is in his first year as UPEI’s head coach. “Our backs are some of the best in the league, and she kind of leads that crew along.Article contentArticle content“We’ve selected her as one of our captains because she really brings a really good voice. She knows when to speak and when she speaks, it’s very impactful.”Article contentBain, a graduate of Charlottetown Rural High School from Millcove, P.E.I., welcomes the added responsibility of being a team leader. The Panthers’ roster features several first- and second-year players.Article content“We have a very young roster, obviously, but it’s a lot of people who have a lot of desire and a lot of drive to them,” Bain told The Guardian in a phone interview. “They want to prove themselves and just make an impact right away, so it’s really nice to see.”Article contentHometown prideArticle contentBain understands the significance of having the opportunity to compete at the university level in her home province.Article content“Growing up, I would always see people playing sports for UPEI,” said Bain. “I didn’t really play rugby until I reached high school, so I never really watched too much of it (at the university level).Article contentArticle content“But you’d always see people walking around town with UPEI bags on and everything, so you were always looking up to them because they were like role models. They were the people that you aspired to be like.”Article contentNow, Bain is one of those student-athletes.Article content“It’s really special to be able to represent my university and my home province, which is really nice, and just trying to be a role model to other people as well, because there are always eyes on you and people that feel inspired by what you do. It’s really cool.”Article contentWork ethicArticle contentBain, 21, said one trait the Panthers have displayed early in the 2025 season is a strong work ethic.Article content“Even though they are very young, they want to learn, and they want to get better,” said Bain. “They feed off any sort of competitiveness that you give them… It’s a really good environment.”Article contentBain’s on-field leadership requires being vocal.Article content“I’m trying to help out my teammates and help direct traffic a little bit,” said Bain, who starts at the inside-centre position. “Usually, I’m kind of screaming at people to shift one way, shift the other, and just trying to make sure that everybody’s on the same page.”Article contentThe Panthers, coming off a 45-7 season-opening road loss to the St. Francis Xavier X-Women on Sept. 5, will host the defending Atlantic University Sport (AUS)-champion Acadia Axewomen in their home opener on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m.Article content“I am really excited to showcase what we’ve been working on this training camp,” said Bain, a fourth-year environmental studies student. “It’s a little bit of a different look than what we are typically used to. “It’s just really exciting to kind of try something new, try something else, and have fun.”