Canada’s roster named for opening match of Pacific Four Series against USA

Friday April 26, 2024 (Los Angeles, California) – Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team, Kevin Rouet, has selected the roster for Canada’s opening match of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series against the USA.

The Pacific Four Series, an annual competition between Canada, USA, Australia and the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, New Zealand, kicks off with the tournament’s opening match between Canada and USA at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California at 1:30 p.m. PST on Sunday April 28 (4:30 p.m. EST). Canada has won eight straight matches against their rivals from the United States, including a 50-17 victory to begin last year’s Pacific Four Series.

Edmonton’s Sara Cline is set to start her first international match for Canada at hook after coming off the bench to earn her first two caps for Canada in 2023. Tyson Beukeboom starts at lock and will earn her 66th cap for Canada, putting her just one behind Canada’s all-time women’s cap leader, Gillian Florence. Captain Sophie de Goede moves from her regular position at number 8 to the flank with Gabrielle Senft set to start at the back of the forward pack.

Pamphinette Buisa and Sabrina Poulin both will start the match, recently representing Canada at the HSBC SVNS Series in Hong Kong earlier in April. Olivia Apps, captain of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, starts on the bench as a reserve.

“After bringing the squad back together for the first time since the fall last week, all of the players, coaches and staff are excited to begin the tournament with a match against the USA,” said Rouet. “All of our players have been playing at a high level in Canada and around the world since our last game together. They are eager to get back on the field on Sunday as we look to continue to build momentum for the next two matches with a strong showing against our long-time rivals.”

Due to a pre-camp injury, Cassandra Tuffnail has been replaced by Mya Brubacher on Canada’s 30-player squad.

More information on the Pacific Four Series, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official website for World Rugby.

WHERE TO WATCH

Canada vs USA will be streamed live on TSN+ on Sunday, April 28 at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET., with an encore broadcast on TSN2 at 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET. 

TSN+ is the 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+.

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM PACIFIC FOUR SERIES MATCH DAY ROSTER vs USA

1.      Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC 

2.      Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers / Western Force 

3.      DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs  

4.      Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC / Ealing Trailfinders  

5.      Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / ASM Romagnat 

6.      Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish 

7.      Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC / Saracens 

8.      Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Stade Bordelais 

9.      Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais 

10.  Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers 

11.  Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Saracens 

12.  Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs 

13.  Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – UBC / Chiefs Manawa 

14.  Madison Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores 

15.  Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) – Town of Mount Royal RFC 

FINISHERS

16.  Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs 

17.  McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens

18.  Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Stade Français Paris

19.  Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby 

20.   Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Leicester Tigers

21.  Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC 

22.  Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph RFC /Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders  

23.   Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – NorWester Athletic Associations / Westshore RFC