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Canadian World Cup stars Stephanie Bernier and Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid have announced their retirement. Both scrumhalf Bernier and loosehead prop Pinault-Reid were named to the 2014 Women’s World Cup Dream Team for their outstanding contributions to Canada’s 2nd place finish. They also share the same home club – Club de Rugby de Québec (CRQ) – where the pair have been staples for the past decade. The pair were notable inclusions in head coach François Ratier’s January long-list after being unavailable for 2014, but have now withdrawn from contention.
Bernier finishes with 15 caps in her two years with the national side after debuting in 2013. The 27-year-old, a graduate of Laval University, was instrumental in Canada’s World Cup success, though she would unfortunately miss out on the final against England after suffering a knee injury against France in the semi-final. Bernier will now turn her focus to coaching at Laval, where she assists head coach Dominique Duquette and acts as head coach of the junior academy side.
Pinault-Reid, also 27, chalked up 21 appearances for the senior women’s side after her debut in 2011. A powerful ball carrier and scrummager, she earned widespread recognition for her outstanding play in the World Cup. Prior to the 2014 tournament she spent two seasons in France, playing for Lons and Bayonne, winning the French championship in 2014 with the latter. Pinault-Reid returned from the World Cup to continue her medical degree at Laval, and she will begin her internship in July.
