Cindy Nelles

Cindy Nelles is a Canadian rugby union player who played lock for Canterbury, Matatū and the Canada women's national rugby union team. She has played for her national side at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, where she won a silver medal as an injury replacement, and the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. Nelles has played for Canada 19 times. She was a successful rugby union player at college level, winning McMaster University's first CIS rugby union title as well as multiple awards and honours. Nelles helped Canterbury to win the 2019 and 2020 Farah Palmer Cup. Nelles also helped Matatu capture their first ever Super Rugby Aupiki championship in the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Biography Nelles was raised in Belleville, Ontario. Nelles was educated at St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School, graduating in mid-2011. She matriculated to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, studying civil engineering. She plays in the lock position in rugby union, Nelles was a spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk promoting mental health problem awareness. She grew fond of rugby, playing the sport at the high school, provincial, and age grade levels. Nelles made her debut at the international level for Canada at the four-game 2011 Under 20s Nations Cup in Santa Barbara, California, placing third out of four teams with a 2–2 record. She was supported by capital that had been raised by her friends, family, sponsors, and an organized barbecue bash. In her 2013 season, Nelles scored eight tries, accumulating 44 points in five regular-season competitions. This placed her seventh in the Ontario University Athletics player rankings, and was named to the OUA Russell Division All-Star Team and as a CIS All-Canadian selection. She was named the recipient of the Therese Quigley Award as McMaster Marauders Female Athlete of the Year. She was the first rugby player to earn the accolade. Nelles earned the Americas Rugby Breakout Player of the Year Award from North and South America over three male players.

At the international level, she made her debut for the Canada Maple Leafs senior women's developmental national team as captain on a two-match tour of England. which lost 21–9 to England in the final. Nelles played for the Canada women's national rugby union team at the 2015 Women's Rugby Super Series in Alberta. She went on to play three matches for Canada at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup, scoring a single second-half semi-final try against Wales to finish in fifth position. Overall, Nelles has played for the national Canada team 19 times.

In 2022, Cindy was named to the Blues's Squad to compete in Super Rugby Aupiki, the first ever season of women's professional rugby in New Zealand. There she played two games for the team at second row. In the first game they won against Matatū 21–10 and in their second game they lost to Chiefs Manawa 35–0.

In the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season Cindy switched teams to play for Matatū. Cindy was a key leader and lineout specialist who helped the team become champions after defeating Chiefs Manawa 33–31 in the final. Cindy also lead the league tackling stats with 73 tackles.