Player, Coach, Mother
Stevi Schnoor, Canada
We teamed up with Rugby League World Cup 2021 for a special series. From Jamaica, Brazil and Lebanon, to England, New Zealand and the Cook Islands, our series documents the personal journeys of players to the Rugby League World Cup 2021 – across the Men’s, Women’s, and Wheelchair tournaments.
Stevi Schnoor talks about transitioning from playing to coaching with the Canada Women’s Team, and giving birth to her daughter whilst preparing for the World Cup.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your rugby journey?
My name is Stevi Schnoor and I am currently the assistant coach for the Canada Ravens National Women’s Rugby League team.
I started rugby playing union when I was 12 years old and played up until I was 23. During that time, I was able to represent Canada all the way up to the Senior Women’s level, earning myself three caps. After a hiatus from rugby, and an eight-year stint playing in an arena tackle football league in the USA, I made my return to rugby league at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Currently I am making my transition from player to coach after giving birth to my beautiful daughter in July 2022. She will be accompanying me and helping me on the sidelines as an assistant coach!
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with any of the photos?
My main goal was to show different aspects of the game but also the fun side and the comradery that is a major aspect of the sport and the team!
Not everyone gets to see the amazing off field experience that the women bring to the game. I believe a lot of the reason why people try rugby league and stay is due to the incredible relationships that are built off the field.
The photos were quite a mix. There are players from across the country during Ravens trial games, Canada East vs West games and even some club league games from the summer in BC (British Columbia).
How unusual and challenging has your preparation for the RLWC been?
My preparation has been challenging in a way that I have not experienced before. I had a baby three months before the tournament who will be joining me on this trip to the RLWC. Trying to juggle being a mom and the constant demands of that, be a good partner to my fiancée, as well as fulfil my role as a coach with preparations such as watching game film in advance is quite the feat. There definitely does not seem to be enough hours in the day!
What role does rugby league play in your community and country?
The rugby league community in BC is full of amazing people, and it has created the opportunity for people to play rugby all year round, because we play during the summer months (the opposite of rugby union) which is a very special opportunity for the athletes here! With the Canada Women’s team rising up the rankings, it is such an incredible chance for our players to represent the maple leaf in a sport they love at the highest level possible against the best women in the world! There are not very many opportunities for women to do that!
What does rugby league and playing for your country mean to you?
Rugby league has a special place in my heart. Playing in the last World Cup in 2017 was one of the best experiences of my life as an athlete. To be able to experience it all over again but from the sideline, and with my daughter, will be another life bucket list moment to say the least.
It is always an honor to be able to wear the maple leaf as it is a representation of so much hard work. I am not sure what the future will bring, I am going to just live in the moment during this adventure and then I will re-evaluate after I have soaked up this tournament.
What are the biggest changes happening at the moment in women's rugby league?
I think rugby league for women in Canada is becoming more known. Back in 2017 I had not really heard of rugby league before. Now with the attention and recognition that the World Cup in 2017 brought, it has grown the sport across the country with women's rugby league clubs and provincial teams being created!
What do you expect to change after the RLWC for women's rugby league? What would you like to change?
I think every World Cup that Canada plays in only brings more attention to the women's game, which will in turn create more growth as we saw in 2017! The more we can play the game and give opportunities for women in the country to try the sport the better.
I am very excited to see where the initial footsteps that the pioneers of the game have taken will lead, creating opportunities for the next generation of women's rugby league players. Hopefully one day I will get to see my daughter enjoy the benefits and growth the game has experienced in Canada and one day possibly wear a Ravens jersey as well!
