40 players named to Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s camp ahead of Pacific Four Series in Ottawa

As preparations continue for Canada’s matches against New Zealand and Australia in Ottawa this July, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named 40 players for a pre-tournament camp that will be held in Perth, Ontario over June 26 to July 1. 

With representation from nine provinces, the squad includes 22 players from Canada’s 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) roster and 20 players from Canada’s tour in Spain earlier this year, which was highlighted by a 50-17 win over the USA in the first match of the 2023 World Rugby Pacific Four Series. 

Joining the camp straight off the Premier 15s final in England will be Emily Tuttosi, Daleaka Menin and Gabrielle Senft, who are playing for the championship title with Exeter for the second season in a row. 

Amongst the 40 are seven players who competed with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team on the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series: Alysha Corrigan, Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds, Madison Grant, Olivia Apps, Sabrina Poulin, and Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team captain Sophie de Goede. 

The Pacific Four Series host city of Ottawa is well represented; Alexandria Ellis grew up playing with Barrhaven Scottish Rugby Football Club before playing for the University of Ottawa with Madison Grant. Claire Gallagher and Talia Hennessy, two possible debutants, are current All-Stars with the uOttawa Gee-Gees. 

Other rookies include University of British Columbia standouts Jordan McLeod, Rachel Smith, Rori Wood, Savannah Bauder and Shoshanah Seumanutafa. Fellow outstanding U Sports players Ashlynn Smith (University of Calgary), Mya Brubacher (Queen’s University) and Sara Cline (University of Lethbridge) will also look to earn their first international caps. 

Aiding in selection was a series of regional competitions, organized by provincial unions, that took place across Canada from April to June. Twenty-six of the selected 40, along with 14 of the non-travelling reserves, competed on teams representing BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, PEI and Nova Scotia. 

“Since returning from our tour in Spain earlier this year, we have continued collaborating with universities, clubs, provincial unions, and Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team to build the squad that will take on New Zealand and Australia at TD Place,” said Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team. “Together these 40 players bring a wealth of experience, skill and passion, and are excited about the prospect of playing in front of a loud home crowd on Canadian soil. Our week in Perth will be a very important component of our preparations as we eagerly await kick-off against the Black Ferns on July 8.” 

The pre-tournament camp will conclude with a Canada Day training scrimmage with the United States, consisting of three 30-minute periods. Held at Oakfield Rugby Park, home of the Lanark Highlanders Rugby Football Club, the scrimmage will be open to the public, with kick-off at 1:00 p.m. ET and a community BBQ to follow. Canada’s official 30-player roster for the final rounds of the Pacific Four Series will be declared following July 1.  

Canada plays New Zealand on July 8 and Australia on July 14 at TD Place. Tickets start at just $20 and can be purchased at rugby.ca/en/tickets. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@rugby.ca.  

Media accreditation applications are currently open here, with a deadline of July 3. Questions regarding media accreditation can be directed to media@rugby.ca.  

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM PRE-CAMP ROSTER 
*Italicized teams indicate players who competed in the above referenced regional competitions in spring 2023 

FORWARDS 
Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens  
Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of British Columbia / Alberta South 
Caroline Crossely (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers 
Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby / Alberta North 
Daleaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs  
Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs  
Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) – Halifax RFC / Nova Scotia 
Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais  
Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Exeter Chiefs 
Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / BC Gold 
Jordan McLeod (Rivers, MB) – Brandon Barbarians / University of British Columbia / BC Gold 
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / ASM Romagnat  
Marie-Pier Fauteux (Sherbrooke, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Quebec East 
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Ontario East 
Mya Brubacher (West Montrose, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University / Ontario East 
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC / Nova Scotia 
Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia / BC Gold 
Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – University of British Columbia / BC Gold 
Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers / Alberta North  
Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning 
Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC / Nova Scotia 
Talia Hennessy (Chelsea, QC) – Ottawa Irish / University of Ottawa / Ontario East 
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC / BC Blue 
Zoe Williams (Victoria, BC) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria / BC Blue  

BACKS 
Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Nova Scotia 
Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Ottawa / Ontario East 
Corinne Fréchette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Quebec East 
Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – NorWester Athletic Associations / Westshore RFC / BC Blue 
Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) – University of British Columbia 
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers / BC Blue 
Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais  
Madison Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores / Ontario East 
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – TMRRFC / Concordia Université / Quebec West 
Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC / BC Blue 
Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors 
Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) – TMRRFC / Eibar Rugby Taldea 
Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) – Toronto Scottish / Westshore RFC 
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Lons Section Paloise 
Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / BC Gold 
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / BC Gold  

NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES  
Abby Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – University of Lethbridge / Alberta North 
Adea Elliot (Owen Sound, ON) – Guelph Rugby Club / Ontario West 
Alayna Scramstad (Lashburn, SK) – University of British Columbia / BC Gold 
Audrey Champagne (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Quebec East 
Cecile Leclerc (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Quebec East 
Eden Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Westshore RFC / Aurora Barbarians / BC Blue 
Ellen Murphy (Augustine Cove, PEI) – Charlottetown RFC / PEI 
Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / University of Calgary 
Justine Blatt-Janmatt (Wolfville, NS) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria / Nova Scotia 
Kendra Cousineau (Port Colborne, ON) – Niagara Wasps / University of Guelph / BC Blue 
Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Queen’s University / Ontario East 
Magali Harvey (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Queen’s University / Quebec East 
Maggie Mackinnon (Sooke, BC) – University of Victoria / BC Blue 
Marie Thibault (Québec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Quebec East 
Renee Gonzalez (Scarborough, ON) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria / BC Blue 

UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION 
Alexandra Tessier 
Brianna Miller
Brittany Kassil 
Cassandra Tuffnail 
Chloe Daniels 
Holly Philips 
Karen Paquin 
Maya Montiel 
Miklela Nelson 
Pamphinette Buisa 
Taylor Perry 
Veronica Harrigan