Canada Women start UK tour in England

Canada’s National Senior Women’s team has touched down in England, where they will start their four-match tour against the Red Roses at Doncaster on Sunday. Head coach Sandro Fiorino has taken 31 players for what will be his team’s first and only matches of 2018.

Included are 11 members of the 2017 World Cup squad. Front rowers DaLeaka Menin, Laura Russell, Olivia DeMerchant, and Brittany Kassil are joined by locks Tyson Beukeboom and Cindy Nelles up front. Returning backs are scrumhalves Lori Josephson and Brianna Miller, midfielder Alex Tessier, and outside backs Elissa Alarie and Magali Harvey.

Two players originally named as non-traveling reserves have been called up as injury replacements for Sophie de Goede and Emma Jada, both missing out due to injuries sustained while competing at the USports National Championships. UVic loose forward Chanelle Edwards-Challenger and Guelph Redcoats winger Emily Samek receive their first calls for senior national duty.

Also ruled out due to injury are Jennifer Appleby, Hunter Czeppel, Madison Gold, and Fabiola Forteza.

Two players are named who were not part of the original extended squad. Canada u20 and Sevens cap Tausani Levale joins as a midfield option with Maple Leafs Sevens standout Sabrina Poulin taking a place among the outside backs.

Along with tests against England, Wales, and Scotland, Canada will play a reserve side against England’s Academy team at Cobham RFC on Wednesday, November 21.

[EDIT: Emilie Nicholl has also been ruled out. Abby Duguid is added at lock.]

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Fredericton Loyalists / St. FX X-Women), Veronica Harrigan (London St. George’s / Western Mustangs), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), Maude Laliberté (CRQ), DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets), Gillian Boag (Capilano / UBC Thunderbirds), Mackenzie Carson (Bristol Bears, UK), Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads), Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan Piggies), Abby Duguid (Edmonton Pirates / Lethbridge Pronghorns), Ngalula Fuamba (TMR / UdeM Carabins), Cindy Nelles (Belleville Bulldogs), Chanelle Edwards-Challenger (Castaway Wanderers / UVic Vikes), Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans / Alberta Pandas), Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers), Janna Slevinsky (Kingston Panthers), Sara Svoboda (Belleville Bulldogs / McMaster Marauders)

BACKS
Lori Josephson (Guelph Redcoats), Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Taylor Black (Oakville Crusaders), Anaïs Holly (TMR), Alex Tessier (SABRFC), Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown RFC), Paige Farries (Westshore), Tausani Levale (Abbotsford), Marie Thibault (CRQ), Magali Harvey (CRQ), Sabrina Poulin (TMR), Emily Samek (Guelph Redcoats), Elissa Alarie (SABRFC / Westshore), Irene Patrinos (Toronto Saracens)

FIXTURES
Sun, Nov 18 – 14:00 local / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT – vs England – Castle Park, Doncaster
Wed, Nov 21 – 19:30 local / 14:30 ET / 11:30 PT – vs England ‘A’ – Fairmile Lane, Cobham
Sat, Nov 24 – 11:30 local / 06:30 ET / 03:30 PT – vs Wales – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Tue, Nov 27 – 19:00 local / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT – vs Scotland – Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow