Wednesday July 9, 2025 (Pretoria, South Africa) – Following a 50-20 victory for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team this past Saturday, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has selected his roster for the second of back-to-back matches in South Africa against the Springbok women.
Canada and South Africa will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) on Saturday July 12 at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha, taking to the pitch ahead of the men’s match between the Springboks and Italy for the second-straight week.
Carissa Norsten, the 2024 HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year, will earn her first cap for Canada’s 15s team, starting on the wing. Taylor McKnight, a hooker from the University of Guelph, is also in line for her international debut after being named as the reserve hooker.
Sophie de Goede returns to the Canadian lineup for the first time in over a year, following a knee injury. She will start the match on the bench. De Goede last represented Canada in the team’s historic victory over New Zealand during the 2024 Pacific Four Series.
“One of the main purposes of this tour was to make sure all 32 players got valuable playing experience and to give them the opportunity to showcase themselves on the field,” said Rouet. “It was a tough encounter in altitude last weekend, it’s now time to keep growing and gaining experience with our next game. You’ll see that there are a lot of changes to our team compared to last week but this tour was about building our depth and confidence ahead of the World Cup. I am excited to see how this group performances this week.”
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada’s match versus South Africa on July 12 will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) and will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM 2025 SCHEDULE
Canada vs South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – Gqeberha, South Africa
July 12 at 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET (1:30pm local time)
Canada vs United States
TD Place – Ottawa, Ontario
August 1 at 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
Canada vs Ireland
Kingspan Stadium – Belfast, Northern Ireland
August 9 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)
Canada vs Fiji (Rugby World Cup)
York Community Stadium – York, England
August 23 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET (5:30pm local time)
Canada vs Wales (Rugby World Cup)
Salford Community Stadium – Manchester, England
August 30 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)
Canada vs Scotland (Rugby World Cup)
Sandy Park – Exeter, England
September 6 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs SOUTH AFRICA
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC
4. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat
6. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
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. Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, SK) – Kirin RFC / University of Victoria
12. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
14. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria / Loughborough Lightning
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Taylor McKnight (Stouffville, ON) – University of Guelph / Aurora Barbarians
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
20. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
21. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
22. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
23. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
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
Manager, Communications
bwillis@rugby.ca