Canada names Senior Women’s squad for Fall tests

Sandro Fiorino has named a squad of 32 players for Canada’s Senior Women’s tour to Colorado and the UK. The team will play two tests against the USA on November 1 and 5 followed by overseas games against England on on November 14 and Wales on November 21.

Included are 10 members of the 2017 World Cup squad with another – New Zealand-based lock or No8 Cindy Nelles – unable to make the trip. Others unavailable or injured include Saracens duo Mackenzie Carson (hooker) and Alysha Corrigan (centre/wing), Exeter lock McKinley Hunt, former Exeter flyhalf Taylor Perry (formerly Black), and uncapped pair Rachel Smith (flanker) and Justine Blatt-Janmaat (scrumhalf).

There are 11 travelers currently playing for European clubs included with six more who featured in France or England last season. Exeter Chiefs supply an entire front row trio of Olivia DeMerchant, Emily Tuttosi, and DaLeaka Menin while five players remain uncapped – second row Laetitia Royer, flyhalf pair Julia Schell and Nakisa Levale, three-quarter Sarah-Maude Lachance and outside back Renee Gonzalez.

The test series marks a turning point in preparations for next year’s World Cup in New Zealand. Canada will compete in Pool B along with North American rivals USA, Italy, and an Asia qualifier to be determined. Final squads of 30 will be named prior to the tournament next year.

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Exeter Chiefs, UK), Alex Ellis (Saracens, UK), Ngalula Fuamba (TMR), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs, UK), Mikiela Nelson (Capilano), Gillian Boag (Capilano), Veronica Harrigan (Brantford Harlequins), Laura Russell (Cowichan), Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs, UK), Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan), Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans), Laetitia Royer (Lons, FR), Emma Taylor (Halifax RFC), Pam Buisa (Ottawa Irish), Sophie de Goede (Castaway Wanderers), Karen Paquin (Stade Bordelais, FR), Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers), Janna Slevinsky (Saracens, UK)

BACKS
Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais, FR), Emily Belchos (Westshore), Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford), Julia Schell (Guelph Redcoats), Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish), Sarah-Maude Lachance (Lons, FR), Alex Tessier (SABRFC), Marie Thibault (CRQ), Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors, UK), Renee Gonzalez (Westshore), Sabrina Poulin (Stade Rennais, FR), Elissa Alarie (Westshore)