On and off the field, Emma DeLory is shaping rugby’s future
Rugby first drew in Emma DeLory for the challenge, but it’s the people and sense of belonging that have kept her in the game.
“I love the contact in rugby. That’s my favourite part of the sport,” she says. “It’s not for everybody, but that’s what made me fall in love with it on the field—and then the people off the field, too.”
For Emma, the culture surrounding the game is just as powerful as the play itself. “There’s a place for everybody in rugby, no matter your size, speed, or strength,” she says. “It makes it feel a little bit more like a family.”
Starting rugby later than most, in Grade 12, Emma quickly found her place. After university, she moved into coaching, working her way from mini and high school teams to provincial and national levels. Today, she’s Rugby Nova Scotia’s Provincial Performance Coach and has led teams at the Canada Games and Rugby World Cup.
“When I first started, I was close in age to the athletes I was coaching,” she says. “Sometimes parents or other coaches would mistake me for a player. It took a few small changes, like being the last person in the handshake line or wearing a different shirt during warm-up, for people to recognize me as a coach and leader.”
Her coaching philosophy centres on using sport to teach life skills. She believes rugby provides a safe space for young people to learn, make mistakes, and grow under the guidance of mentors.
Now, Emma finds the greatest reward in watching others grow. “It’s motivating when you see kids doing the work on their own, or when parents tell you how much of an impact you’ve had on their kids’ lives,” she says. “When an athlete goes on to play for Canada or becomes a coach themselves, that’s what keeps you coming back day after day.”
Since 2006, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation has funded athletes, coaches, officials and community sport organizations across Nova Scotia through its Support4Sport program, administered by Sport Nova Scotia. Funded by the proceeds from designated lottery products, Nova Scotians have raised more than $68 million for Support4Sport.
Programs like Support4Sport are helping rugby thrive across Nova Scotia. Emma says community sport wouldn’t exist without this kind of support. It gets athletes on the field, keeps programs running, and helps develop the coaches who make it all possible.
“Sport has done so much for me,” Emma says. “And because Nova Scotia Gaming has Support4Sport, I’m able to work professionally in a sport I love and give back to my community.”
