Growing up in Souris, Emily Tuttosi loved rugby, and the star has taken that love of the game around the world, and is representing Canada at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Starting in Souris
Going back to the beginning of her journey, Tuttosi can't remember a time where she didn't love the game of rugby. "Thankfully, Souris school had a youth rugby program," she says with a smile. "My older brother played, and I have a twin sister, and we both were pretty aggressive, so it seemed like a good sport to try. 20-some years later, here I am."
Rugby is an incredibly demanding sport, and Tuttosi says she's put in a lot of hard work over the years. "I mean, obviously I've developed over time to be at the top level. In terms of physically developing, I've always had a drive to get better in sports while I was growing up. Now that I've specialized in rugby, I've always tried to be a better version of myself. You learn very quickly it's much easier to grow if you're only comparing to yourself and not those around you, because rugby welcomes so many different strengths and skills, you're never going to be the best at all of them. Mentally, I think there have been times over my career where I've had to stop and have a check in, figure out what I can do to be performing better, or to be getting a better life balance, because sometimes, that can be really tough. I am also really thankful that the more time you play, the more people I've met, the more skills that work for those other people, you can try and make work for myself."
Saying yes to opportunities opens doors
Getting the opportunities to make a name for herself in rugby came from not just hard work, but a willingness to do whatever it took, wherever it may have taken her. "I guess, when I was in high school, I just said yes to a lot of opportunities," Tuttosi explains. "Brian Yon, who's still coaching there now, he offered for me to come to like, a provincial team tryout, and at the time, I was 14, and it was a U19 team. So, I had no expectation at the tryout, but then I made the team, getting to go to nationals. From there, it was like, there's a Westman thing, so I said yes to that. Over all that time, I got to play more rugby than just high school. I was a University of Calgary Dino for five years. Over my time there, I had been scouted for the U20 national team, and represented Canada for three years. When I finished up University, I first debuted for the senior women in 2017. My journey didn't look very linier from there, I actually didn't get picked for the national team again until the end of 2021, kind of. In that time, I had made the jump over to England."
Heading overseas
The decision to move across the pond for rugby was an easy on for Tuttosi, who continued to do whatever it took to keep living her dream. "The reason I went over to England was just because I loved rugby, and wanted to play more. If I was going to become good enough to make Team Canada again, great. If not, it wasn't fine, but I just love rugby so much, that I didn't wan to lose the joy in it, but thankfully, my hard work has paid off, and playing in the Premiership. I've been a solid member of the national team since 2021."
Bonding with teammates
"It is really special," Tuttosi says about building relationships with her teammates. "I was speaking with teammate recently about just what a privilege it is to be surrounded by so many women, and including the male staff members on our team as well, that inspire you every day to be a better version of yourself, on and off pitch. That's a privilege, and sure you earn it, but you can't take it for granted. The community outreach that we all have the power to do, to lift up those around us to the 'if you can see it, you can be it' mentality, it's something we all share, because not all of us had that like youth today do. I'm super privileged to be in this enviroment, around these athletes, to be around people from around the world playing rugby. But, I do know it's a privilege, and I know that it comes with responsibilities if you're going to do this right."
In part 2, Emily Tuttosi talks more about the growth of rugby in Canada, representing Manitoba on the world stage, and being an inspiration to all athletes that love what they do, and one day want to be like her.