Thursday May 15, 2025 (Christchurch, New Zealand) – After kicking off their 2025 Pacific Four Series campaign with a win over the USA, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team, Kevin Rouet, has selected his 23-player roster to face the New Zealand Black Ferns in Christchurch on Friday May 16 at 8:35 pm PT/11:35 pm ET (Saturday May 17 at 3:35pm local time).
Last year, Canada beat the Black Ferns for the first time in history by a score of 22-19 at Apollo Projects Stadium, where the two sides will face each other this week, this time with Canada as the reigning Pacific Four Series champions.
“We were glad to be able to get a victory over USA to begin the Pacific Four Series but as a group we knew there was a lot we needed to improve with New Zealand being our next opponent,” said Rouet. “Playing against the Black Ferns is always a big challenge, but the result last year and all the hard work the squad has put in since then gives us the confidence we need going into this one. It’s just another opportunity to test ourselves as we prepare for the World Cup later this year.”
After helping Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team capture bronze at the HSBC SVNS World Championships earlier this month in Los Angeles, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds and Alysha Corrigan will start the game for Canada with Olivia Apps being an option off the bench.
After entering the game in the second half in Canada’s win over the USA, Courtney O’Donnell, DeLeaka Menin, Claire Gallagher and Emily Tuttosi move into the starting lineup. McKinley Hunt and Caroline Crossley will start on the bench for Canada and will both be in line for their first international game action of 2025.
Following the game against New Zealand, Canada will travel to Australia to close out the Pacific Four Series against the Wallaroos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 22 at 11:55pm PT / May 23 at 2:55am ET (4:55pm local time).
More information on the Pacific Four Series, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official World Rugby website HERE.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada vs New Zealand will be available live on TSN4 and TSN+ on Friday May 16 at 8:35 pm PT/11:35 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 NEW ZEALAND
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
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. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
11. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / 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. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
17. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
20. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
22. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau / Chiefs Manawa
23. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / Saracens
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