Wednesday July 30, 2025 (Ottawa, Ontario) – Riding a ten-game winning streak against their American rivals, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s match day roster has been named by Head Coach Kevin Rouet. Canada and the USA will kick off at 7:00pm local time (4:00pm PST) on Friday August 1 at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.
Friday night will be Canada’s one and only game on home soil before departing for the Rugby World Cup in England. The match aims to surpass a new attendance record for a women’s rugby match in Canada that was previously set at the stadium in 2023. Tickets are on sale HERE.
“The team is very excited to play at home here in Ottawa,” said Rouet. “Playing in front of Canadian fans is always a special experience for the players and I think this will give us a lot of momentum heading into the World Cup. It has been a short week of preparation, but the team has looked sharp in practice and we will be ready to perform on Friday in front of the Canadian crowd.”
Claire Gallagher has been named to start at fly-half for Canada in Friday’s match. A former player with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, Gallagher made her international debut in 2023 against New Zealand in Ottawa. Pamphinette Buisa, representing the Ottawa Irish Rugby Club, has been selected as a reserve and will begin the match on the bench.
On the wing, Paige Farries returns to international competition for the first time since suffering an injury during the WXV 1 finale last fall in Vancouver. Sophie de Goede, who made a substitute appearance earlier this month against South Africa, is set to earn her first start since returning from a significant knee injury.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada’s match versus USA on August 1 will kick off at 7:00pm local time (4:00pm PST) and will be available on TSN5 and TSN+.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS USA
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
5. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
6. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
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. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
11. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – 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. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / Saracens
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Taylor McKnight (Stouffville, ON) – University of Guelph / Aurora Barbarians
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC
19. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
21. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
22. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
23. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
MISSION: WIN RUGBY WORLD CUP
In March 2025, Rugby Canada officially launched the Mission: Win Rugby World Cup (MWRWC) 2025 fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $1,000,000. Despite rising to the second world ranking, the Canadian women’s rugby team operates on a fractional budget compared to its closest competitors. This $1 million gap was identified to best equip the team with extra resources to help them make history.
The mission is now within reach: over 88% of the fundraising goal has been pledged through generous individual donations and crowdfunding. Rugby Canada extends its deep appreciation to all MWRWC supporters in embarking on a final push of this campaign for the team’s Rugby World Cup journey. 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:
Braedan Willis
Manager, Communications
bwillis@rugby.ca