Seq'hiya Simmons—a second-year lock—is a new and impactful member of the Horns Rugby team. After her first year playing at Central Washington, the program ended, and she decided to come to the University of Lethbridge to play. Her energy and determination are immediately noticeable both at practice and on the field.

Simmons is enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is a descendant of Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Growing up in an athletic family, she played softball and basketball, and in Grade 11 she tried rugby. "I went to my first practice, and I was like 'yeah, I'm going to do this for the rest of my life… I get to run and hit people, that's great,'" Simmons says. Both rugby and her Indigeneity are big parts of her life. It's been a lot of ups and downs being away from home, and Simmons never expected to end up in Southern Alberta, but was surprised at both the rugby and university communities. "Everyone is really welcoming… it's interesting to be in a high-performance environment where you know everyone around you truly cares about you." Simmons commented on both the team and greater university community saying, "Being in Southern Alberta and surrounded by so many other Indigenous communities brought a lot of comfort to myself and my family."

Through the USA pathway Simmons hopes to continue with rugby at the international level and is thankful for the Pronghorns as an impactful point in her journey. The skills she has gained here have already elevated her game; she is excited for the coming years as a Pronghorn and hopes to experience more of Canada, and Canadian rugby, in the future.

Simmons is working on completing her Indigenous government and business management degree with hopes of working for and helping Indigenous communities across North America. Along with this, she wants to keep rugby in her life knowing she will end up coaching, "I do want to—after I'm done playing—I want to coach, especially indigenous youth… (I know) how important athletics are to youth in general, but especially indigenous youth; providing (them) opportunities to play at higher levels."

Even far from home, Simmons has found community at the University of Lethbridge and carries the strength of her family and culture into the game she loves.