Julie Naugler #9 named AUS Rookie of the Year & All-Star

Julie Naugler of the Saint Mary's Huskies is the 2016 Atlantic University Sport women's rugby rookie of the year. 

An arts student from Stillwater Lake, N.S., Naugler played in all six of the Huskies' regular season games this year.

A first-year scrum half with Saint Mary's, Naugler is a graduate of Rugby Nova Scotia's Keltics Academy, a program which focuses on the development of the whole athlete—concentrating on core skills development as well as strength and fitness training.

She travelled extensively with both the 15s and 7s sides during her high school career.

"Her athletic ability coupled with her dedication to perfection allowed her to develop her knowledge of the game and skills as a scrum half," said Huskies head coach Amber Davidson.

"Although she is in her first year, she's definitely a leader our players look to for direction on the field. We're proud to have her as part of the Huskies family and we're extremely excited to watch her grow with the program."

Naugler becomes just the second AUS rookie of the year to be selected from the Saint Mary's Huskies and the first since 2001 when Huskies alumna Vanessa Pike earned the honour.

Naugler also becomes the AUS nominee for the national rookie of the year award.

Former CIS player of the year Ghislaine Landry of StFX was the last Atlantic conference player to be named CIS rookie of the year in 2006. A Huskies player has yet to earn the national honour.

2016 AUS WOMEN'S RUGBY ALL-STARS

The 2016 Atlantic University Sport women's rugby all-stars were also announced Friday evening following the championship final. They are as follows:

Front row: Joanna Alphonso, StFX (3^rd year – Ajax, Ont.)
Front row: Holly Jones, UPEI (5^th year – Riverview, N.B.)              
Front row: Brodie Cassata, UPEI (3^rd year – Rothesay, N.B.)
Second row: Harley Tucker, Acadia (1^st year – Black Diamond, Alta.)
Second row: Ellen Murphy, StFX (4^th year – Augustine Cove, P.E.I.)
Back row: Angela Govier, Acadia (3^rd year – New Dundee, Ont.) 
Back row: Brooke Newsome, StFX (4^th year – Brantford, Ont.)
Back row: Miranda Sample, StFX (3^rd year – Havelock, Que.)
Scrum half: Julie Naugler, Saint Mary's (1^st year – Stillwater Lake, N.S.)
Fly half: Gillian Bergsma, Acadia (4^th year – Waterford, Ont.) 
Centre: Jaelei Meyer, StFX (4^th year – Carlyle, Sask.)
Centre: Natasha Johnson, Acadia (1^st year – Williams Lake, B.C.)
Winger: Annie Kennedy, Acadia (1^st year – Kingston, Ont.)
Winger: Alysha Corrigan, UPEI (3^rd year – Sherwood, P.E.I.)
Fullback: Breanna Allison, StFX (4^th year – Cole Harbour, N.S.)