Tuesday June 4, 2024 (Langford, BC) – Twenty-eight players have been named to a Women’s Canada Selects squad that will play two matches against Spain this month. 

Players were selected through a series of regional and inter-provincial matches across Canada. The tour will serve as an important development opportunity, with players gaining valuable international test match experience and training with coaching staff from the senior national team. 

“This tour will be an opportunity for players to test and challenge themselves in an international high performance setting. With the roster including players who competed at the Pacific Four Series, this is also an opportunity for those players to mentor others and share their experiences of competing for Canada at the highest level,” said Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team. “We are greatly looking forward to working with this group as well as to competing with a Spanish squad that is preparing hard and looking to qualify for the Rugby World Cup against Wales at the end of the month.” 

A number of players that recently won the 2024 Pacific Four Series with Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team have been named to the squad, including Julia Omokhuale, Sara Cline, Sara Svoboda, Claire Gallagher, Julia Schell and Shoshanah Seumanutafa. 

Mahalia Robinson and Lizzie Gibson have been called up to the Canada Selects from the U SPORTS / Maple Leaf Academy squad currently in France for the 2024 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens, with Mika Matsukubo and Natalie Armatage replacing them at the FISU tournament. 

Olivia De Couvreur joins the team from Canada’s women’s sevens program, along with Maya Addai from the Maple Leaf Academy. 

Spain will host the Canada Selects on June 9 in Elche and on June 15 in Villajoyosa, with kick-off times, as well as additional information on how to follow, to be announced. Spain’s announcement can be read here. 

WOMEN’S CANADA SELECTS SPAIN SQUAD  

Forwards  

Abby Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – Loughborough Lightning 
Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary / Alberta South 
Demi Swann (Georgetown, ON) – Exeter Chiefs 
Jordan McLeod (Rivers, MB) – Brandon Barbarians / University of British Columbia / BC Blue 
Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Leicester Tigers 
Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) – Saracens  
Mya Brubacher (West Montrose, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University / Ontario East 
Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish 
Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – University of British Columbia / BC Blue 
Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers / Western Force 
Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning 
Tattyannah Jackson (Newmarket, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University / Ontario East 
Taylor McKnight (Stouffville, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Guelph / Ontario West 
Teya Ashworth (Eastbourne, ENG) – University of British Columbia / BC Blue 
Tylo Borsboom (Winnipeg, MB) – Assassins RFC / University of Ottawa / Ontario East 

Backs  

Audrey Champagne (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Quebec East 
Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – Markham Irish / University of Ottawa / Ontario East  
Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers 
Corinne Fréchette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Quebec East 
Emily Belchos (Innisfil, ON) – Castaway Wanderers / BC Gold 
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph RFC / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders 
Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Queen’s University / Ontario East 
Madison Donnelly (Little Britain, ON) – Brock RFC / Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University / Ontario East 
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – Town of Mount Royal RFC / Ontario West 
Maya Addai (Ottawa, ON) – Westshore RFC / BC Gold 
Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia / BC Blue 
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Chiefs Manawa 
Taejah Thompson (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club / Alberta South 

Staff  

Kevin Rouet (Head Coach) 
Duncan McNaughton (Assistant Coach) 
Brittany Waters (Assistant Coach) 
Blake Wilson (Assistant Coach) 
Stacey Maskelyne (Analyst) 
Allison Rodway (Medical) 
Tara Makrigiannis (Medical) 
Dustin Hopkins (Team Manager)

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:

Liz Montory
Manager, Communications
Lmontroy@rugby.ca