Rugby Canada – Canada’s Women’s Fifteens Team defeats Australian Wallaroos 45-5 to close out International Women’s Rugby Series in New Zealand; Next up for Canada is Women’s Rugby World Cup August 9-26 in Ireland

ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND (June 16, 2017) — Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team ran in seven tries as they beat Australia 45-5 in its final game of the International Women’s Rugby Series in New Zealand.

Canada got tries from Julianne Zussman (2), Jane Kirby, Frederique Rajotte, Emily Belchos, Brianna Miller and Kelly Russell.

“We wanted to play with a bit more tempo than we’ve been playing with,” captain Kelly Russell said. “You have to learn from previous losses and that’s what we did. This game was a start and we’re keep building ahead of the World Cup.”

Canada came storming out of the gates and in the seventh minute Australia were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes as Cheyenne Campbell was sent to the sin bin and Canada took advantage as Kirby powered over for a 7-0 lead.

The lead was soon doubled as Canada forced a turnover on defence, Magali Harvey sprinting away before finding Zussman who strolled in. Rajotte extended Canada’s lead to 19-0 in the 23^rd minute before Belchos barged her way over the try line for a 26-0 lead at half time.

After Australia got on the scoreboard, Miller grabbed her first test try as she slithered through a hole to push Canada’s lead to 33-5. Canada got late tries through captain Russell as well as Zussman to secure a convincing 45-5 victory. Canada concluded the three-match tour with a 1-2 record, after earlier losses to the world no.1 ranked Black Ferns and no.2 ranked England.

Friday’s game was the final warm-up match for Canada before the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Canada will not return home to continue training before departing for Ireland in late July ahead of their opener against Hong Kong on August 9th.

Canada’s roster for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be announced in mid-July.

Canada’s Roster vs. England (Name, club, hometown):

1. Carolyn McEwen, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club (Vancouver, BC)

2. Jane Kirby, Highland Fergus Rugby Club (Brampton, ON)

3. DaLeaka Menin, Hornets (Vulcan, AB)

4. Kayla Mack, Saskatoon Wild Oats (Saskatoon, SK)

5. Laura Russell, Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC (Bolton, ON)

6. Jacey Grusnick, Barrhaven Scottish (Alliston, ON)

7. Karen Paquin, Club de Rugby de Quebec/Castaway Wanderers (Quebec City, QC)

8. Kelly Russell, captain Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC (Bolton, ON)

9. Lori Josephson, Aurora Barbarians (Beaverton, ON)

10. Emily Belchos, Westshore RFC (Innisfil, ON)

11. Frederique Rajotte, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC (Montreal, QC)

12. Amanda Thornborough, Westshore RFC (Brandon, MB)

13. Brittany Waters, Meraloma Athletic Club/Castaway Wanderers (Vancouver, BC)

14. Magali Harvey, Town of Mont-Royal RFC (Quebec City, QC)

15. Julianne Zussman, Castaway Wanderers (Montreal, QC)

16. Brittany Kassil, Guelph Redcoats (Guelph, ON)

17. Olivia DeMerchant, Woodstock Wildmen/Castaway Wanderers (Mapledale, NB)

18. Tyson Beukeboom, Aurora Barbarians/Cowichan RFC (Uxbridge, ON)

19. Cindy Nelles, Belleville Bulldogs (Belleville, ON)

20. Barbara Mervin, Westshore RFC (Peterborough, ON)

21. Chelsea Guthrie, Stratchona Druids (Edmonton, AB)

22. Alex Tessier, Montreal Barbarians (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC)

23. Brianna Miller, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC (Pointe-Claire, QC)

Unavailable due to Injury:

Elissa Alarie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC (Trois Rivieres, QC)

Latoya Blackwood, Westshore RFC (Montreal, QC)

Andrea Burk, Capilano RFC (North Vancouver, BC)

Coaching Staff:

Francois Ratier- Head Coach

Shaun Allen- Assistant Coach

Colette McAuley- Technical Support

Nicole Crowley- Manager

Nicole Ainsworth- Athletic Therapist

Nicole Allen- Athletic Therapist

James Kent- Analyst

Scoring Summary:

Canada:

Tries: Julianne Zussman (2), Jane Kirby, Frederique Rajotte, Emily Belchos, Brianna Miller, Kelly Russell

Conversions: Magali Harvey (4)

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Bryan Kelly  I  Manager, Communications and Media Relations  I  Rugby Canada  I  3024 Glen Lake Road  I Langford, British Columbia, Canada V9B 4B4  I  Tel. 250.418.8998 ext. 314  I  Fax 250.386.3810  I Cell. 250.216.5272 | bkelly@rugbycanada.ca I www.rugbycanada.ca