Rugby Canada announce roster for Canada’s National Senior Women’s 15s Fall Tour

October 14, 2021 (Langford, BC) - Head coach Sandro Fiorino has announced his roster for Rugby Canada’s National Senior Women’s 15s Fall Tour, beginning in November. Canada faces the USA, Wales and World No.1 England as they continue preparations for the rescheduled Rugby World Cup in October 2022.

Canada’s roster features a wealth of experience heading into their November matches, with a total of 398 caps spread across the roster, led by Laura Russell, who will look to earn her 50th cap. Teammates Alex Tessier, DaLeaka Menin, Emily Belchos de Goede and Karen Paquin will all enter the Fall Tour looking for their 30th caps.

Several Canadians could also make their 15s debuts: Julia Schell, Laetitia Royer, Sarah Maude Lachance, Nakisa Levale and Renee Gonzalez. Levale and Gonzalez are both coming off impressive September performances at the HSBC Canada Sevens Fast Four events in Vancouver and Edmonton and have progressed through Rugby Canada’s Maple Leaf Academy.

Canada’s opening two matches of the Fall Tour also mark the kick off of the Pacific Four Series, a new women’s competition that will soft launch with Canada and USA going head-to-head on November 1 and 5, 2021. The full four-team format will debut in 2022, ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.

“We are very excited to get our Fall Tour underway with this group of players,” said Fiorino. “Our upcoming matches will provide the competitions necessary for us to continue building as a team as we draw closer to kick off of World Cup 2021.”

Canada Women’s 15s Fall Tour Roster

• Alex Ellis - Ottawa, ON - Barrhaven Scottish/Saracens
• Alexandra Tessier - Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC - Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
• Brianna Miller - Pointe-Claire, QC - Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
• Brittany Kassil - Guelph, ON - Guelph Redcoats
• Courtney Holtkamp - Rimbey, AB - Red Deer Titans
• DaLeaka Menin - Vulcan, AB - Exeter Cheifs
• Elissa Alarie - Trois-Rivieres, QC - Westshore RFC/SABRFC/Braves de TR
• Emily Belchos de Goede - Innisfil, ON - Westshore RFC
• Emily Tuttosi - Souris, MB - Exeter Chiefs
• Emma Taylor - Scotsburn, NS - HRFC
• Gabrielle Senft - Regina, SK - Castaway Wanders
• Gillian Boag - Calgary, AB - Capilano RFC
• Janna Slevinsky - St. Albert, AB - Saracens/Calgary Saracens
• Julia Schell - Uxbridge, ON - Guelph Redcoats
• Justine Pelletier - Rivière-du-Loup, QC - Les Lionnes du stade bordelais/ Club de rugby de Quebec
• Karen Paquin - Quebec, QC - Club de Rugby de Quebec/Stade Bordelais
• Laetitia Royer - Loretteville, QC - Lons Section Paloise/ St-Anne-de-bellevue
• Laura Russell - Bolton, ON - Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC
• Marie Thibault - Quebec, QC - Club de Rugby de Quebec
• Mikiela Nelson - North Vancouver, BC - UBC Rugby/Capilano Rugby
• Nakisa Levale - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford RFC
• Ngalula Fuamba - Notre-Dame-de-l'ÃŽle-Perrot, QC - T.M.R.R.F.C.
• Olivia DeMerchant - Mapledale, NB - Exeter Chiefs/ Halifax Tars RFC
• Paige Farries - Red Deer, AB - Worcester Warriors/Westshore RFC
• Pamphinette Buisa - Gatineau, QC - Ottawa Irish
• Renee Gonzalez - Toronto, ON - Westshore RFC
• Sabrina Poulin - St-Georges, QC - TMRRFC/Stade Rennais
• Sara Kaljuvee - Ajax, ON - Toronto Scottish
• Sarah-Maude Lachance - Victoriaville, QC - Lons Section Paloise Rugby Feminin / Club de • Rugby de Quebec
• Sophie de Goede - Victoria, BC - Castaway Wanderers RFC
• Tyson Beukeboom - Uxbridge, ON - Cowichan RFC
• Veronica Harrigan - Lucan, ON - Brantford Harlequins

Injured or Unavailable For Selection

• Alysha Corrigan - Charlottetown, PEI - CRFC/Saracens
• Cindy Nelles - Belleville, ON - Belleville Bulldogs/University Canterbury
• Justine Blatt-Janmaat - Wolfville, NS - Valley Rugby Union
• Mackenzie Carson - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford RFC
• McKinley Hunt - King City, ON - Aurora Barbarians/Exeter Chiefs
• Rachel Smith - White Rock, BC - Vancouver Thunderbirds
• Taylor Perry - Oakville, ON - Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club

Canada’s Women’s 15s Fall Tour Schedule

• Nov. 1, 2021 @ USA  - 5:00pm (PT) - Infinity Park, Colorado - (TICKETS)
• Nov. 5, 2021 @ USA - 5:00pm (PT) - Infinity Park, Colorado - (TICKETS)
• Nov. 14, 2021 @ England - 6:30am (PT) - Twickenham Stoop, London - (WATCH / TICKETS)
• Nov. 21, 2021 @ Wales - 9:00am (PT) - Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff - (TICKETS)

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 tournaments.