The Dauphin Clippers girls rugby team are three-time provincial champions.

The Clippers won their third straight provincial title with a 31-15 win over the Souris Sabres, June 2, in Souris.

Ryann Richard-Soltis had two tries to lead the Clippers, while Victoria Carter, Paityn Bourgouin and Kiersten Vandekerckhove had one try each. Bourgouin added three converts.

While stating it feels amazing to be three-time provincial champions, Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak was quick to point out the girls earned it.

“It truly is a real cap off for a three-peat with three league and three provincials titles. But hats off to Souris. They played really well. It was a hard-fought game. They scored three times against us. They made us get into penalty trouble and then made us pay for it,” he said.

“But the girls were able to rise above it and play through it.”

Sarkonak and assistant coach Kent Miner felt the team may have played a bit down.

“Their heads may not have been in it right off the hop, but they were able to push through,” he said.

“We moved some players around. Some minor injuries here and there, but we were able to get everybody on the field, which we’re always happy to do. It’s not always quality field time for certain players, but when you’re in a provincial final like that, some sacrifices have to be made.”

Sarkonak said you cannot really compare winning a third title to the first one, which is always a bit more special.

“The first one is always really special. As a coach, you’ve worked to get there. The players, they’ve worked to get there. And to repeat the first time was really special,” he said.

“And with the group of girls that we’ve had over the last three years, we really had a good contingent that we’re going to be graduating next year. So the next two years are going to be hard core rebuild, recruiting mode.”

The core of next year’s team, Sarkonak said, is going to be the most experienced team the Clippers have had since 2023.

“As they were rookies that year. So that will be their fourth year and they’ve gained a lot of valuable experience that I think they’re going to use on the field and push for a fourth one,” he said.

Most of the players will also be taking part in the fall 7s season, while three players are still in the running for Team Manitoba, which will compete at the Canada Summer Games.

“So if they make that lineup, then they’ll be coming right out of that tournament and pretty much going right into the 7s season in the fall,” Sarkonak said.

The Clippers will lose three players to graduation, as well as one exchange student.

“So we have a real solid core coming back who are athletic and we’re really looking forward to it,” Sarkonak said.