Canada name Women’s World Cup team

Rugby Canada have confirmed their roster for the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, to kick off in Dublin, Ireland, on August 9. Included are all 28 players from the International Women’s Rugby Series that took place in New Zealand last month, with World Cup rosters increasing from 26 for 2017.

A total of 18 players return from the side that reached the 2014 World Cup Final, falling to England by 21-9 at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris. Among the returnees are 2014 IRB (World Rugby) Women’s Player of the Year Magali Harvey, and fellow 2014 World Cup Dream Team selections Andrea Burk and Kelly Russell. The latter will lead the team for the second consecutive World Cup.

Canada have been drawn in Pool A at the tournament, along with Hong Kong, Wales, and New Zealand. The latter is of only two teams currently ranked ahead of Canada on the official World Rugby Rankings, the other current #1 England.

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Castaway Wanderers), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), Carolyn McEwen (Burnaby Lake), DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets), Chelsey Minter (Westshore), Mary-Jane Kirby (Highland), Laura Russell (Cowichan), Kristy Sargent (Lep-Tigers), Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan), Kayla Mack (Wild Oats), Latoya Blackwood (Westshore), Jacey Grusnick (Barrhaven Scottish), Barb Mervin (Westshore), Cindy Nelles (Belleville Bulldogs), Karen Paquin (CRQ), Kelly Russell (capt., Cowichan)

BACKS
Chelsea Guthrie (Strathcona Druids), Lori Josephson (Aurora Barbarians), Brianna Miller (Westshore), Emily Belchos (Westshore), Andrea Burk (Capilano), Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians), Amanda Thornborough (Westshore), Magali Harvey (CRQ), Frédérique Rajotte (SABRFC), Brittany Waters (Castaway Wanderers), Elissa Alarie (Westshore), Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers)

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
Gillian Boag (Capilano), Daria Keane (Guelph Redcoats), Camille Provençal-Aubé (Castaway Wanderers), Sara Svoboda (Belleville Bulldogs), Anaïs Holly (TMR), Katie McNally (Castaway Wanderers), Natasha Smith (Barrhaven Scottish)

STAFF
Head Coach – François Ratier
Assistant Coach – Shaun Allen
Scrum Coach – Gary Dukelow
Technical Support – Colette McAuley
Analyst – James Kent
Manager – Nicole Crowley
Team Doctor – Dr. Shannon Houston
Strength & Conditioning – Jamie McCartney
Lead Therapist – Nicole Ainsworth
Therapist – Brad Curry

POOL FIXTURES
Wed, Aug 9 – 17:15 local / 12:15 ET / 09:15 PT – vs Hong Kong – Billings Park, Dublin
Sun, Aug 13 – 17:00 local / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT – vs Wales – Billings Park, Dublin
Thu, Aug 17 – 12:00 local / 07:00 ET / 04:00 PT – vs New Zealand – Billings Park, Dublin