Canadian women’s rugby coach Kevin Rouet has named an expanded squad of 36 players for Canada’s defence of its Pacific Four Series title.
The tournament marks the first outing of a high-stakes year for the second-ranked Canadian women, with the 16-country Rugby World Cup scheduled for Aug. 22 to Sept. 27 in England.
Canada opens Pacific Four Series play May 2 against the eighth-ranked United States at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City before flying to the Southern Hemisphere to play No. 2 New Zealand on May 16 at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch and No. 6 Australia on May 22 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Canadians open a pre-tournament camp April 19 in Chula Vista, Calif., and will be joined by the Canadian women’s sevens squad on April 22 for a week of combined training ahead of the Pacific Four Series and the final stop of the HSBC SVNS series May 3-4 in Carson, Calif.
“The Pacific Four Series marks the start of a very exciting year for women’s rugby in Canada,” Rouet said in a statement. “Giving up to 36 players valuable game time and experience at the start of the Rugby World Cup year is very important as we continue to build towards England.”
By naming the maximum allowed number of 36 players for the Pacific Four Series, Rugby Canada can switch players between 15s and sevens play. Players selected for the final SVNS stop will be available to join Rouet’s 15s squad for the Pacific Four Series matches against New Zealand and Australia.
“We want to give ourselves the best chance to win the Rugby World Cup and finish on the SVNS podium in Los Angeles this year,” said women’s sevens coach Jocelyn Barrieau. “This format is exactly what our ‘One Squad; philosophy is all about and will allow us to put the best teams on the field for the Pacific Four Series and in (California) giving both programs the opportunity for success both short term and long term.”
Players like Fancy Bermudez. Asia Hogan-Rochester, Krissy Scurfield, Taylor Perry and Olivia Apps have played for both 15s and sevens teams.
The Canadian sevens women sit fourth in the overall HSBC SVNS standings ahead of play this weekend in Singapore, the penultimate event of the season. The women are coming off a third-place performance in Hong Kong.
Canada won last year’s Pacific Four Series with its first-ever victory over New Zealand, defeating the Black Ferns 22-19 last May in Christchurch. The Canadian women had lost all 17 previous meetings with New Zealand, with 10 of those defeats by 27 points or more.
Canada has been drawn in a pool with No. 7 Scotland, No. 10 Wales and No. 16 Fiji at the World Cup.
Canada RosterForwards
Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Alysia Comtois, Magog, Que., University of Ottawa; Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Cassandra Tuffnail, Heidelberg, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Holly Phillips, Canmore, Alta, Bristol Bears (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Mikiela Nelson, North Vancouver, Exeter Chiefs (England); Rachel Smith, South Surrey, B.C., UBC; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England).
Backs
Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Florence Symonds, Vancouver, UBC; Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Blatt-Janmaat, Wolfville, N.S., Valley Rugby Union; Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Krissy Scurfield, Canmore, Alta., Loughborough Lightning (England); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sarah-Maude Lachance, Victoriaville, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2025.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
