September 6, 2023 (Langford, BC) – Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named 32 players for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s upcoming tour to England, which will serve as preparation for the inaugural WXV competition taking place in New Zealand this October and November.
Having last met nearly a year ago in the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) semi-final, Canada and first in the world ranked England will play two test matches at the end of September. The first will be played at Sandy Park, the home of the Exeter Chiefs, on Saturday September 23 at 6:30 a.m. PT / 9:30 a.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time).
The second match will kick off on Saturday September 30 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET (3:00 p.m. local time) at StoneX Stadium in London, home of the Saracens.
Nine players on Canada’s roster currently compete on Premier 15s teams in England, including three with the Exeter Chiefs (DaLeaka Menin, Emily Tuttosi, Alexandra Tessier) and three with the Saracens (Alex Ellis, McKinley Hunt, Sophie de Goede).
Paige Farries is in her fourth season with the Worcester Warriors, as is Sara Svoboda with the Loughborough Lightning. Making her Premier 15s debut this season is Tyson Beukeboom, who has joined the Ealing Trailfinders in their inaugural season.
Fresh off qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics are seven players who competed in the rugby sevens regional qualification event in Langford in August, including Krissy Scurfield, who could earn her first cap with Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team in England.
Three other players could also earn their first caps. Julia Omokhuale took part in Canada’s training camp ahead of the Pacific Four Series in Ottawa this July before competing against the USA with Canada’s U23 Women’s Rugby Team in Boston, and Ashlynn Smith was named to Canada’s Ottawa squad, but was not selected for either match day roster. Caroline Crossley has represented Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team on the World Rugby Sevens Series and at the 2019 Pan American Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Returning to competition with Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team for the first time since 2018 is 2014 Rugby World Cup silver medallist and 2014 Women’s Rugby Player of the Year Magali Harvey. Recently signed with France’s Stade Bordelais, Harvey spent the 2022-23 season with Queen’s University and took part in Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team’s international summer showcase.
“We have a full and exciting fall ahead of us. These two test matches against England are very important in our preparation for WXV and the 2025 Rugby World Cup,” said Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Head Coach Kevin Rouet. “Since last having the team together in Ottawa for the Pacific Four Series, we have had a number of players integrated with the sevens program in Langford and many preparing for seasons abroad in England and France. We are greatly looking forward to regrouping once again for what will be two challenging, top-level matches.”
Tickets are on sale on the England Rugby website, and more information on how to watch and follow in Canada will be announced shortly.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM ENGLAND TOUR ROSTER
FORWARDS
Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary
Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs
Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers
Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / University of Calgary
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / ASM Romagnat
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – UBC Rugby / Capilano Rugby
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC
Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers
Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC / Saracens
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
BACKS
Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Ottawa
Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – NorWester Athletic Associations / Westshore RFC
Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) – University of British Columbia
Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria
Madison Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores
Magali Harvey (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Queen’s University / Stade Bordelais
Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors
Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) – TMRRFC / Eibar Rugby Taldea
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Lons Section Paloise
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders
NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES
Abby Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – University of Lethbridge
Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC
Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Redcoats
Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University
Corinne Fréchette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval
Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) – Halifax RFC / Saracens
Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) – Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – TMRRFC / Concordia Université
Mya Brubacher (West Montrose, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University
UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
Brianna Miller
Cassandra Tuffnail
Karen Paquin
Maya Montiel
Pamphinette Buisa
Sara Kaljuvee
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 30,000 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, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournament.