“Journey to the Rugby World Cup” continues for Canada’s Senior Women’s 15s as squad named for July camp and home test match versus Italy

July 18, 2022 (Langford, BC) – As the “Journey to the Rugby World Cup” continues for Canada’s Senior Women’s 15s, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named his squad for their July camp, from which he will pick his game day roster for the upcoming test match against Italy, the team’s first at home since 2015.

On Sunday, July 24, the Women’s 15s, whose official team partner is NFP, will take on Italy at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC, the home of Rugby Canada, before heading east to Halifax, NS where they will host Wales at the Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, August 27. Click here to buy tickets.

Having competed in the Pacific Four Series in New Zealand last month, where Canada claimed victories over the USA and Australia, the squad came back together on Friday to officially begin the camp, though many players had previously gathered in Langford as part of a soft centralization.

Among those in the squad, Audrey Champagne and Mahalia Robinson are participating in the first senior camp of their careers, while Fabiola Forteza and Janna Slevinsky have returned from injury and are included alongside Mackenzie Carson.

“The goal of this July camp is to bring the group together and continue our preparations for the Rugby World Cup,” said Rouet. “The experience of hosting and playing in a home test match for the first time in seven years will be one to savour for the players.”

He added: “Italy will be a tough opponent as they are ranked No. 6 in the world, and we expect them to provide us with a difficult test. This match will also give us the opportunity to put the plans we work on during the camp into action.”

CANADA’S SENIOR WOMEN’S 15S SQUAD FOR JULY CAMP AND TEST MATCH VERSUS ITALY

Abby Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – University of Lethbridge / Loughborough Lightning
Alex Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) - Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
Anaїs Holly (Montreal, QC) – Town of Mont-Royal RFC
Audrey Champagne (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
Brianna Miller (Pointe-Claire, QC) - Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Redcoats
Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
Cindy Nelles (Belleville, ON) – Belleville Bulldogs / University of Canterbury
Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans / Loughborough Lightning
DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs
Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) – Westshore RFC / SABRFC / Braves de TR
Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) – HRFC / Saracens
Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec / Stade Bordelais
Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers
Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
Janna Slevinsky (St. Albert, AB) – Calgary Saracens
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers
Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) - Club de rugby de Quebec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Lons Section Paloise
Laura Russell (Bolton, ON) – Cowichan RFC / Toronto Nomads
Mackenzie Carson (Abbotsford, BC) - Saracens
Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) – University of Ottawa
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – Concordia University
Marie Thibault (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) – University of Ottawa
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Exeter Chiefs
Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – UBC Rugby / Capilano Rugby
Ngalula Fuamba (Notre Dame de-l'ile-Perrot, QC) - T.M.R.R.F.C.
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars
Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors
Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
Renee Gonzalez (Toronto, ON) – Westshore RFC
Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) - T.M.R.R.F.C. / Stade Rennais
Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) – Toronto Scottish
Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) - Club de Rugby de Québec/Lons Section Paloise Rugby Feminin
Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC
Veronica Harrigan (Lucan, ON) – Brantford Harlequins

TEAM STAFF FOR JULY CAMP AND TEST MATCH VERSUS ITALY

Kevin Rouet – Head Coach
Emma Delory – Team Manager
Jeremy Steinbach- Strength and Conditioning Coach
Dave Butcher – Assistant Coach
Duncan McNaughton – Assistant Coach
Maria Gallo – Support Coach
Jocelyn Barrieau – Support Coach
Clint Lemkis – Support Coach
Jack Hanratty – Support Coach
Stacey Maskelyne - Analyst
Alli Rodway – Athletic Therapist / Medical Lead
Kiyomi Thompson – Athletic Therapist
Dr. Heather Henry – Team Physician
Kristy Martin Hale – Coordinator, Women’s High Performance