Canada start fresh on England tour

Only seven players from the Women’s Rugby World Cup squad will travel with Canada on their three-match tour of England next week. Less than half of the 27 players named have test caps to their name with a large number of regulars opting out of the tour after the long build-up to Ireland. Captain Kelly Russell and Amanda Thornborough will play for the Barbarians while others have switched their priority to the upcoming HSBC Sevens Series.

Returnees include front row forwards Olivia DeMerchant, Brittany Kassil, and Laura Russell, the latter a leading contender to assume the captaincy in the absence of sister Kelly. Tyson Beukeboom and Cindy Nelles are options in the second and back row. Halfback pair Brianna Miller and Emily Belchos round out the World Cup contingent.

Belchos could also see time in the midfield with Anaïs Holly and Jess Neilson also capable of playing the pivotal No 10 position. Both have senior caps already on their resume as do second row Emma Taylor and flanker Fabiola Forteza. Taylor is the only overseas-based player in the squad, currently with Railway Union in Ireland.

Among the new names are three members of the Monilex Cup-winning Ottawa Gee-Gees in Alex Ellis, Dria Bennett, and Sam Alli. The rest have largely come through the age-grade and USports university system. Alberta Pandas loose forward Courtney Holtkamp has jumped to the seniors after representing the national u18 side against the USA earlier this year.

Taking over the Head Coach role from the departed François Ratier is Sandro Fiorino, whose full-time position sees him as head of the Toronto-based Rugby Canada Sevens Academy program. Fiorino begins in an interim capacity but could take the job permanently subject to a post-tour review. Assisting him for the England tour will be Gee-Gees coach Jen Boyd and scrum coach Duncan McNaughton.

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Woodstock Wildmen), Alex Ellis (Barrhaven Scottish / Ottawa Gee-Gees), Veronica Harrigan (London St. George’s / Western Mustangs), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), Emily Barber (Aurora Barbarians), Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads), Emily Tuttosi (Calgary Hornets / Calgary Dinos), Tyson Beukeboom (Aurora Barbarians), McKinley Hunt (Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s Golden Gaels), Emilie Nicholl (Guelph Redcoats / Guelph Gryphons), Emma Taylor (Railway Union, IR), Fabiola Forteza (CRQ / Laval Rouge), Ngalula Fuamba (TMR / U de M Carabins), Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans / Alberta Pandas), Cindy Nelles (Belleville Bulldogs), Janna Slevinsky (Calgary Saracens / Queen’s Golden Gaels), Sara Svoboda (Toronto Saracens / McMaster Marauders)

BACKS
Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Justine Pelletier (CRQ / Laval Rouge), Anaïs Holly (TMR / U de M Carabins), Jess Neilson (Castaway Wanderers / UVic Vikes), Emily Belchos (Westshore), Dria Bennett (Ottawa Irish / Ottawa Gee-Gees), Paige Farries (Westshore), Sam Alli (Barrhaven Scottish / Ottawa Gee-Gees), Emma Jada (Guelph Redcoats / Guelph Gryphons), Nadia Popov (Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s Golden Gaels)

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
Colleen Irowa (Toronto Saracens), Chelsey Minter (Westshore), Daria Keane (Guelph Redcoats), Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers), Julia Schell (Guelph Redcoats / Guelph Gryphons), Chanelle Edwards-Challenger (Castaway Wanderers / UVic Vikes), Elysa Sandron (Calgary Hornets / Calgary Dinos)

FIXTURES
Nov 17 – vs England – Allianz Park, London
Nov 21 – vs England – The Stoop, London
Nov 25 – vs England – Twickenham, London