Andrea Burk is a Canadian former rugby player who became one of the country’s most respected figures in women’s rugby. Raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Burk grew up in an active, sport-focused environment and began playing rugby at age 15 with the Capilano Rugby Football Club, while also competing in soccer at a high level. She played high school rugby at Carson Graham Secondary School, where her early exposure to the sport helped shape a lifelong passion.
Burk attended Acadia University, initially recruited for soccer in 2000. After three seasons, she shifted her focus to rugby in 2004. She quickly emerged as one of the top university players in Canada, earning back-to-back Atlantic University Sport Most Valuable Player honors in 2004 and 2005 and becoming the first Acadia Axewomen rugby player to be named an All-Canadian in consecutive years. She was also named Acadia’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2005 and 2006. Burk completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology during her time at Acadia and later earned a Master’s degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University.
Her success at the university level led to a national team career, debuting for Canada in 2009. Over her international career, she earned 38 caps and established herself as a versatile and consistent backline player. The highlight of her playing career came at the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, where she played a key role in Canada’s historic run to the final. The team captured the silver medal—the best result in Canadian women’s rugby history at the time—with Burk recognized as one of the tournament’s top performers and named to the World Cup Dream Team
In addition to her World Cup success, Burk represented Canada in sevens rugby and briefly in rugby league, demonstrating her adaptability across formats. She also earned provincial recognition, including being named British Columbia’s Female Rugby Player of the Year in 2011.
Following her playing career, Burk transitioned into coaching and broadcasting. She has served as head coach of the UBC Thunderbirds women’s rugby sevens program and continues to mentor high-performance athletes. As a broadcaster, she works with major networks such as TSN and CBC, providing analysis for international tournaments and Olympic Games coverage. She is also an in-demand motivational speaker, focusing on leadership, team culture, and resilience.
Today, Andrea Burk remains a leading voice in Canadian rugby, with a legacy defined by high performance, leadership, and her ongoing commitment to growing the women’s game.
