Hilton commits to Axewomen rugby for 2026 season

The Acadia Axewomen have strengthened their 2026 recruiting class with the addition of Caroline Hilton, a 5'7 prop from Fall River, N.S. She will pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree at Acadia University.

Hilton has been a steady presence with the Nova Scotia Keltics program since 2020, serving as team captain from 2023 to 2025. During that stretch, she helped the team capture three Atlantic Championship gold medals, along with one silver and one bronze. At the club level, she developed with Tars RFC under coach Mandy Wells, earning recognition as the program’s U15 Female Player of the Year.

At Lockview High School, Hilton was named Coaches’ Award recipient in 2025 and captained the forwards group that season. Her athletic background extends well beyond rugby — she has competed in Team Atlantic sprint kayak, represented Team Nova Scotia in alpine skiing at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and appeared at the 2024 Eastern Championships in alpine racing. She also attended the U18 Rugby Canada East positional camp, where she continued to hone her front-row skills.

Hilton said her decision to attend Acadia was guided by the sense of connection she felt with the rugby community.

“Acadia Rugby embodies community, strength and a love of the game,” Hilton said. “I’m excited to be part of a team culture that supports girls in sport and helps us grow as players and professionals. I want to contribute to the legacy of strong Axewomen — strong alone, unbreakable together.”

Known for her leadership and physical presence, Hilton adds valuable experience to Acadia’s forward group as the Axewomen continue to build toward future Atlantic University Sport contention.