Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team squad named for Pacific Four Series in Ottawa

Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Head Coach Kevin Rouet has announced the 30 players who will make up Canada’s squad for the 2023 World Rugby Pacific Four Series matches in Ottawa.   

Final selections were made following a pre-tournament camp of 40 players at Oakfield Rugby Park in Perth that included a Canada Day scrimmage with the USA. The team has now relocated to Ottawa for their final week of preparation ahead of playing the New Zealand Black Ferns on Saturday July 8. 

Led by captain Sophie de Goede and vice-captain Justine Pelletier, the team includes four standout U Sports players who have been named to their first senior national team squad: Ashlynn Smith (University of Calgary), Claire Gallagher (University of Ottawa), Mya Brubacher (Queen’s University), and Sara Cline (University of Lethbridge). Canada West 2022 Player of the Year Shoshanah Seumanutafa (University of British Columbia) returns, and could play in her second cap, having made her debut in 2019. 

This also marks the first senior 15s selection for Florence Symonds, one of seven players on the roster who also played for Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team this season. Co-captain of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team Olivia Apps, who was called on to support Canada at the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022), could earn her first cap in Ottawa as well. 

Nine provinces are represented, and three players have connections to the host city of Ottawa. Alexandria Ellis hails from Canada’s capital and has played for Barrhaven Scottish Rugby Football Club and the University of Ottawa. Madison Grant and Claire Gallagher, two former RSEQ Rookie of the Year recipients, have also played for the Gee-Gees. 

Twenty-two players on the squad have Rugby World Cup experience, and several competed in championship finals overseas in the month of June. Fabiola Forteza and Justine Pelletier won the Elite 1 Féminine Title with Stade Bordelais, while Daleaka Menin, Emily Tuttosi and Gabrielle Senft played in the Premier 15s final with Exeter, losing to Gloucester. 

“We had a very good six days of training in Perth, and all 40 pre-camp players put in a lot of work to ensure that we are ready and prepared to face New Zealand and Australia”, said Rouet. “The Lanark Highlanders welcomed us with open arms, and we could feel the support from the local community and the crowd that came out to our scrimmage with the USA on Canada Day. This past week has raised our excitement for our upcoming matches even more, and I am looking forward to working with this roster over the next two weeks in Ottawa.” 

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. Questions regarding media accreditation can be directed to media@rugby.ca.

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM OTTAWA SQUAD 

FORWARDS  
Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens 
Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary 
Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby 
Daleaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs 
Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs 
Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) – Halifax RFC 
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 
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / ASM Romagnat 
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians 
Mya Brubacher (West Montrose, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University 
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC 
Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers 
Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning 
Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC 
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC 

BACKS 
Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC 
Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Ottawa  
Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Wester Athletic Association / Westshore RFC 
Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) – University of British Columbia 
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers 
Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais 
Madison Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores 
Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC 
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 
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia 

STAFF  
Kevin Rouet, Head Coach 
Blake Wilson, Assistant Coach 
Duncan McNaughton, Assistant Coach 
Jack Hanratty, Assistant Coach 
Jocelyn Barrieau, Assistant Coach 
Maria Gallo, Assistant Coach  
Martial Lagain, Assistant Coach 
Jeremy Steinbach, Strength & Conditioning Coach  
Stacey Maskelyne, Analyst 
Alli Rodway, Athletic Therapist 
Amelie Michaud, Physiotherapist 
Kristy Martin Hale, Team Manager 
Emily McComb, Assistant Manager