Thursday July 3, 2025 (Pretoria, South Africa) — Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s roster for the first of two matches against the Springbok Women in South Africa.
Canada and South Africa will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) on Saturday July 5 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, taking to the pitch ahead the opening match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series between the Springboks and Italy.
Captained by Alexandra Tessier, the roster includes two players who won the France Elite 1 championship with Stade Bordelais at the end of May following the Pacific Four Series, Fabiola Forteza and Justine Pelletier. Starting in the front row are two players who will be competing in their 30th cap for Canada, Gillian Boag and McKinley Hunt.
Canmore’s Holly Phillips, who played in the PWR semi-finals this season with the Bristol Bears, could make her debut for Canada off the bench.
“These next two matches in South Africa will be a fantastic opportunity to build depth and confidence amongst the squad and for the players to showcase themselves with the World Cup coming up quickly,” said Rouet. “Saturday will be about focusing on the style of the game we want to play going forward and all the small details that come with that.”
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada’s match versus South Africa on July 5 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
Loftus Versfeld Stadium – Pretoria, South Africa
July 5 at 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET (1:30pm local time)
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. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
6. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat
7. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs
11. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / 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. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
17. Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) – Banff Bears / Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
21. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
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