Canada’s roster announced ahead of WXV clash with England
Rugby 15s Senior Women
Playing England for the third time this fall, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s roster for their second WXV match in New Zealand.
Playing England for the third time this fall, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s roster for their second WXV match in New Zealand.
After a 42-22 victory over Wales in their opening game of WXV, the new three-tier annual global women’s international 15s competition, Canada will play England at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand at 7:00 p.m. local time on Friday October 27 (11:00 p.m. PT on Thursday October 26 / 2:00 a.m. ET on Friday October 27). Prior to their back-to-back matches versus the Red Roses in September, Canadian rugby fans will remember the epic showdown between the two countries at the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) where Canada narrowly fell to the Red Roses by a score of 26-19 in the tournament semifinal.
Rouet has made a few minor changes to his roster following the match against Wales. Paige Farries draws back into the starting lineup on the wing, and Sarah-Maude Lachance will wear the fullback jersey while Madison Grant will be set to enter the game off the bench. After earning her 50th international cap against Wales, DaLeaka Menin will start the game at tight head prop, with Alexandria Ellis moving to the bench as a front row reserve.
“We knew coming into the tournament it would be a short turnaround after our match against Wales to get prepared for England this week, but we are ready,” said Rouet. “The continuity and maturity of the team is really starting to show. We saw positives in our offence in our first game against England back in September, and a better defensive game in our second match against them. Now we need to combine those and put everything together on Friday to get the result we want.”
Returning for each of Canada’s WXV matches is the NFP Forward & Back Game Changers contest. Fans will have the opportunity to vote virtually for the players (one forward and one back) who they think were game changers for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team at WXV, with a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card and a signed jersey. Details on how to participate will be announced on Rugby Canada’s social media channels.
More information on WXV, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official website at wxvrugby.com.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada vs England will be broadcast on TSN3 and TSN+.
TSN+ is the new stand-alone digital streaming service from Canada’s Sports Leader, and is home to an extensive slate of live sports coverage from around the world, including Rugby Canada matches. For more information on TSN+, including subscription options, visit TSN.ca/TSN+.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM WXV MATCH DAY ROSTER vs ENGLAND
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs
4. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
5. Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
6. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Stade Bordelais
7. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
8. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC / Saracens
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Ottawa
11. Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) – University of British Columbia
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
14. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors
15. Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Lons Section Paloise
FINISHERS
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Redcoats
18. Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
19. Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary
20. Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers
21. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
22. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers
23. Madison Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores