Roster named for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team ahead of first match versus South Africa

Thursday July 3, 2025 (Pretoria, South Africa) -- Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s roster for the first of two matches against the Springbok Women in South Africa. 

Canada and South Africa will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) on Saturday July 5 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, taking to the pitch ahead the opening match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series between the Springboks and Italy. 

Captained by Alexandra Tessier, the roster includes two players who won the France Elite 1 championship with Stade Bordelais at the end of May following the Pacific Four Series, Fabiola Forteza and Justine Pelletier. Starting in the front row are two players who will be competing in their 30th cap for Canada, Gillian Boag and McKinley Hunt. 

Canmore’s Holly Phillips, who played in the PWR semi-finals this season with the Bristol Bears, could make her debut for Canada off the bench.  

"These next two matches in South Africa will be a fantastic opportunity to build depth and confidence amongst the squad and for the players to showcase themselves with the World Cup coming up quickly,” said Rouet. “Saturday will be about focusing on the style of the game we want to play going forward and all the small details that come with that.”  

WHERE TO WATCH 
Canada’s match versus South Africa on July 5 will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) and will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.  

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM 2025 SCHEDULE 

Canada vs South Africa   
Loftus Versfeld Stadium – Pretoria, South Africa   
July 5 at 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET (1:30pm local time) 

Canada vs South Africa   
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – Gqeberha, South Africa   
July 12 at 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET (1:30pm local time) 

Canada vs United States 
TD Place – Ottawa, Ontario 
August 1 at 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET 
BUY TICKETS HERE 

Canada vs Ireland  
Kingspan Stadium - Belfast, Northern Ireland  
August 9 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)  

Canada vs Fiji (Rugby World Cup)   
York Community Stadium – York, England   
August 23 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET (5:30pm local time)   

Canada vs Wales (Rugby World Cup)   
Salford Community Stadium – Manchester, England   
August 30 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)   

Canada vs Scotland (Rugby World Cup)   
Sandy Park – Exeter, England   
September 6 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)   

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs SOUTH AFRICA 

1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens 
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury 
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs 
4. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers 
5. Courtney O'Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby 
6. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat  
7. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais 
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens 
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC 
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs 
11. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / Saracens 
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs 
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) - University of British Columbia 
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) - CRFC / Saracens 
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders 

FINISHERS 
16. Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) - Banff Bears / Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears 
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders 
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia 
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders 
21. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) - Ottawa Irish 
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais 
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau 

Mission: Win Rugby World Cup     
Rugby Canada has officially launched the Mission: Win the Rugby World Cup 2025 fundraising campaign. The goal is to raise $1,000,000 to provide Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team with extra resources to help them make history by winning the 2025 Rugby World Cup. With their sights set on a groundbreaking achievement this year in England, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team is currently ranked second in the World Rugby global rankings. For more information or to donate, visit rugby.ca/donate.