STU Tommies Rugby Welcomes Scrumhalf Karise Pusey to the 2025 Roster

Fredericton, NB — St. Thomas University Women’s Rugby 7's program is thrilled to announce the addition of Karise Pusey to the Tommies lineup for the upcoming season.

A graduate of Harbour View High School, where she competed with the Vikings, Pusey joins the Tommies as a dynamic scrumhalf ready to bring energy, passion, and an eagerness to grow her skills on and off the field.

“I will bring a passion to play and a desire to learn and grow in my rugby skills,” said Pusey. “I’ll bring lots of energy to each game and practice, and I’ll cheer on my teammates at every moment possible, on and off the field.”

Pusey chose St. Thomas University because of its close-knit community and commitment to shaping well-rounded graduates. “I feel like they really embodied what I was looking for in a university: small, with lots of opportunities and an emphasis on teaching students more than how to get a job, but ‘goodness and knowledge and discipline.’”

Off the field, Karise is deeply involved in the arts and her community, playing percussion in her school’s band and pep band since Grade 9, learning the lyre in her free time, running sound for her church, and participating in her high school’s tech crew.

Her academic focus at STU will be Anthropology and History, as she hopes to pursue a career in archaeology. She’s also keen to expand her Spanish and religious studies.

Karise is eager to contribute to the program’s continued growth under the guidance of Coach Gabe. “I’ve heard so many great things about Coach Gabe from players from other teams he coaches, and I cannot wait to learn from his expertise,” she said.

Beyond rugby and academics, Karise brings a world of experience to St. Thomas, having lived in four countries — Canada, the United States, Turkey, and Argentina — and she has a unique talent for naming and distinguishing New Brunswick’s nine native frog species.

Welcome to the Tommies family, Karise!