Marchak forced to retire

After nearly a decade with Canada’s women’s sevens team, Marchak retires from the women’s seven`s programme as one of the most decorated players in Rugby Canada history, having represented Canada at the Women’s Rugby World Cup three times and the Women’s Sevens World Cup twice.“This decision didn't come without lack of emotion or difficulty,” said Marchak. “For me at this time, it was the right decision that had to be made. I had to think ahead, and quality of life became an importance. The struggle I was being faced with was not allowing me to be the athlete or person I wanted to be. Ideally this is no way I wanted to finish off my sevens career, but I am glad that I had a choice and the support from many around me.”Marchak earned her first cap for Canada in 2005 with the National Senior Women’s Fifteens Team at the age of 20. She joined the sevens team in 2007 and is considered a pioneer for the program as she helped create a successful foundation for the future.When the sevens program centralised in 2011, Marchak was the leader of the pack.“Mandy has been a fixture for Canada for a decade,” said Canada’s women’s sevens head coach John Tait. “She was instrumental in building the success of this program from the onset of it in 2011. She was my first captain and led the team from the front and helped us go undefeated for over an entire year of tournaments. That early success was crucial for us to gain further funding and support from our Olympic committee. She embraced the daily challenge of becoming a better athlete with a more rounded skill set and that attitude has been a big part of her longevity and success.”Marchak was front and centre when the HSBC Women’s Sevens World Series was introduced in 2012. She finished third overall in scoring in the inaugural season, finishing with 94 points in four tournaments.Despite missing time due to many injuries over the years, Marchak currently sits sixth all-time in Canadian scoring with 163 points in 65 matches.“Players like Mandy become the foundation for our program,” said good friend Jen Kish, current captain of Canada’s women’s sevens team. “She's humble with her achievements and relentless when it comes to failures. Her enthusiasm, pure determination and work ethic goes far beyond any player I have ever played with. She has gone through so much adversity during her career and through it all, she managed to keep smiling. She inspires and makes everyone else around her a better rugby player, but most importantly a better person. She is the kind of athlete and role model our program needs and wants to keep producing.“She has played through some of the most gruelling injuries which has helped us win crucial games. She's a player who puts her body on the line for her teammates and really defines what it means to put the team first. A real leader and a true Canadian rugby icon.”Canadian players with Marchak’s level of experience are few and far between, so when that is combined with the selfless attitude she had towards her teammates, it enhanced the training environment on a daily basis.“Players like Mandy are essential to keep a team together,” said Meaghan Howat, Manager of Rugby Canada’s women’s program. “Her positive and encouraging spirit helps support her teammates through long training days and brighten spirits with a hilarious story or a planned team outing. Having grown up with Mandy from our time at U23 and seeing her become a Canadian legend, attending five world cups since 2006, I can say that she is truly one-of-a-kind and anyone who has ever played with her would say she is not only a world-class player, but an exceptional teammate and friend.”Marchak says she will look back on her sevens career as one of the most extraordinary opportunities of her life.“I can look back on this with great pride,” said Marchak. “The amount of challenges that you are faced with in an environment such as this, really gives you a lot of tools to carry forward in life. To become great at something else in that next chapter. To give back and pass on what you've learned to others. It’s a unique opportunity that I am grateful to have had in my life.”While she never made it about her, Marchak knows what kind of impact she had on the sevens program.“I will always take pride at knowing that in some way or another I was a part of building the foundation for the future in this sport,” said Marchak. “I was there when the girls I looked up to were building the foundation for us to move forward and get the opportunities we had. I hope that the girls playing now do the same and build on this already very strong and solid foundation.”Her former head coach is certainly appreciative of the lasting impression Marchak has left on the sevens program.“It has been a real honour to have been her coach for these last five years,” said Tait. “I’ve learned so much from coaching her and am so grateful for all that she has done for this team. I know that she has inspired many young women to pursue their rugby dreams and I hope she will continue to do so now as a coach and mentor to the next generation of athletes she helped pave the Olympic pathway for.”As for what comes next, Marchak is in no rush to walk away from the sport altogether.“I will look at getting involved with coaching and helping out in the community,” said Marchak. “I enjoy the development aspect and look forward to working with the younger generations.”She’s also hoping to knock some things off her bucket list.“I have to go back to school, buy a house, get a wiener dog, own a tea cup piglet and travel the world,” said Marchak. “In no particular order.”A message from Mandy Marchak:I have been doing this sport for 11 years now and have met some incredible people along the way.I have been coached and mentored by so many outstanding people.I have learned to play this sport so many different ways than you could imagine.I have been given programs and resources out of the kindness of their hearts, because they believed in me and wanted me to have the best chance I could to succeed.I have been funded and given money without hesitation to help me pursue my goals and follow my heart.To the girls I wake up and play beside - some of my best friends and family - who push me and constantly make me think and laugh and live.My friends, I have missed so many important dates and times and you still stood by me and loved me for who I am and believed in me so passionately.My family, my rock, who will always love me unconditionally and no matter where I go or what I do they will always be proud of me.To all of you who have contributed to this unforgettable and amazing career, I thank you in ways words cannot express.Truly, I am forever grateful.