The best team in the country for the past three years has the respect of a nation as a new women's rugby season dawns later this month.

The three-time defending national champion University of Lethbridge Pronghorns top the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) women's rugby Top 10 rankings of the 2010 season.

The Pronghorns, who captured a third consecutive Monilex Trophy last fall thanks to a 20-3 gold-medal triumph over St. Francis Xavier University, received 69 points in the inaugural rugby coaches poll of 2010.

Guelph Gryphons (63 points), who have claimed CIS bronze each of the past three years, go into the new season ranked second, while StFX (62 points) is rated third.

Rounding out the Top 10 are No. 4 Concordia (44), No. 5 Laval (38), No. 6 Alberta (34), No. 7 Western (25), No. 8 UBC (24), No. 9 McMaster (20) and No. 10 Queen's (10).

The CIS women's rugby regular schedule kicks off this weekend with 10 games in Ontario, Quebec and the AUS, while conference play in Canada West starts on Sept. 24. Lethbridge opens the defence of its CIS title at Victoria on the Sept. 24.

Trent University will host the CIS championship in Peterborough, Ont., from Nov. 4 to 7.