Saturday July 5, 2025 (Pretoria, South Africa) – Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team began their South Africa tour with a 50-20 victory over the Springbok women at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon.
Florence Symonds, named player of the match, and Alysha Corrigan led the Canadian women on the day, each scoring two tries accounting for a total of 20 points in the win. Off the kicking tee, Julia Schell slotted five of her eight conversions attempts to give Canada 10 points from the boot.
The first half was highlighted by Symonds’ first international try for Canada’s 15s team, playing in her ninth test match. Symonds’ milestone try in the 29th minute gave Canada a 19-3 lead which the Canadians later increased to 26-3 before the half time whistle.
Scoring four tries in the opening 40 minutes, Canada doubled their try total in the match with another four in the second half. Symonds’ added her second of the match, Corrigan scored twice and Caroline Crossley, playing in her fifth test match, rounded out the scoring with her first try for Canada’s 15s team in the final minute of play.
“We put in a big shift out there,” Symonds said post-match. “We were down to 14 players at one point so we were thrown that challenge but we were ready for it and that’s what we prepare for. I am really proud of this team, we backed each other.”
After entering the match in the second half, Canmore’s Holly Phillips won her first international cap for Canada. Tyson Buekeboom, the most capped Canadian women’s rugby player, earned a milestone 75th cap, coming onto the pitch at the 64-minute mark of the game.
Fancy Bermudez, who was forced to leave the game due to injury and taken off the field on a stretcher as a precaution, has since been medically cleared and rejoined the team after the match.
SCORING SUMMARY
Tries: Florence Symonds (29’, 77’), Alysha Corrigan (45’, 57’), DaLeaka Menin (6’), Fancy Bermudez (17’), Laetitia Royer (34’), Caroline Crossley (80’)
Conversions: Julia Schell (5)
UP NEXT FOR CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM
Canada’s second of back-to-back matches against South Africa will go on July 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) and will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.
JULY 5 MATCH DAY ROSTER: CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM vs SOUTH AFRICA
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
6. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat
7. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs
11. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / Saracens
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) – Banff Bears / Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
21. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
MISSION: WIN RUGBY WORLD CUP
Rugby Canada has officially launched the Mission: Win the Rugby World Cup 2025 fundraising campaign. The goal is to raise $1,000,000 to provide Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team with extra resources to help them make history by winning the 2025 Rugby World Cup. With their sights set on a groundbreaking achievement this year in England, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team is currently ranked second in the World Rugby global rankings. For more information or to donate, visit rugby.ca/donate.
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About Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 40,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.
Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, with staff also working from Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Vancouver Sevens annual tournaments
Media Contacts / Contacts de médias
Braedan Willis
Manager, Communications
bwillis@rugby.ca