Wednesday April 30, 2025 (Kansas City, Missouri) – With Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s 2025 Pacific Four Series campaign slated to begin, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has selected his 23-player roster to play against the USA at CPKC Stadium on Friday May 2 at 5:30 pm PT/8:30 pm ET.
Canada has won nine straight matches against their rivals from the United States, including a dominant 50-7 victory to begin last year’s Pacific Four Series.
“The game against USA to begin PAC4 is an opportunity for us to continue to build consistency, confidence and depth as we start our journey towards the world cup later this year,” said Rouet. “It was great to see our One Squad philosophy come to life these past two weeks in Chula Vista. The collaboration between all the players and staff will give both of our women’s teams the best chance to succeed in the major competitions this year and into the future but I am excited for the players to get back on the field for the first time this year for what always proves to be an intense game against the USA.”
Canada enters the tournament as the defending champions after going undefeated in 2024. This historic result included Canada’s first-ever win over New Zealand, the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, to clinch the title in Christchurch.
Starting at lock, South Surrey’s Rachel Smith is in line to earn her first cap for Canada. Smith is a three-time Canada West All-Star and was named the 2024 U SPORTS Rugby 15s Player of the Year after helping her UBC Thunderbirds squad to the program’s first U SPORTS National Championship.
Rori Wood, who earned her first cap for Canada against Ireland last fall during the 2024 WXV 1 tournament is set to start for the first time in her international career. Veteran flanker Karen Paquin will start a match for Canada for the first time since the 2021 Rugby World Cup while prop Mikiela Nelson could earn her first cap since the last World Cup.
After breaking onto the international rugby scene with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, Krissy Scurfield is in line for her fourth cap and her first appearance in a Canadian jersey since the Olympics in Paris last year.
Following the game against the USA, the team will then travel to New Zealand to play the Black Ferns at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on May 16 at 8:35pm PT / 11:35pm ET (May 17 at 3:35pm local time). Canada will close out the Pacific Four Series against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 22 at 11:55pm PT / May 23 at 2:55am ET (4:55pm local time).
Following the HSBC SVNS World Championship this weekend in Los Angeles, Alysha Corrigan, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds, Mahalia Robinson and Olivia Apps will join Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team for the remaining matches of the Pacific Four Series in New Zealand and Australia. Canada’s women’s teams held a combined training camp in Chula Vista, California from April 22-28 in preparation for the Pacific Four Series and the HSBC SVNS finale.
More information on the Pacific Four Series, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official website for World Rugby HERE.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada vs USA will be available live on TSN2 and TSN+ on Friday May 2 at 5:30 pm PT/8:30 pm ET. Earlier this year Rugby Canada and TSN announced a long-term agreement bringing increased coverage in 2025 and beyond for rugby fans in Canada.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM PACIFIC FOUR SERIES MATCH DAY ROSTER vs USA
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
4. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / ASM Romagnat
6. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
10. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
11. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria / Loughborough Lightning
12. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau / Chiefs Manawa
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. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
19. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
21. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Leicester Tigers
22. Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
23. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
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
Braedan Willis
Team Media Manager
bwillis@rugby.ca