de Goede to lead Canada squad to World Cup in New Zealand

Sophie de Goede will captain Canada’s squad at the World Cup. Head Coach Kévin Rouet today unveiled the 32 players who will travel to New Zealand, 21 of whom are either currently attached to European clubs or played overseas during the past two seasons.

de Goede is just 23 years old but has already proven to be a world class player in the No8 shirt. She follows in the footsteps of her parents – father Hans de Goede captained Canada at the 1987 World Cup, and mother Stephanie White was co-captain in the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 and captain in 1994.

The roster includes nine players who played in the 2017 tournament. Brittany Kassil, DaLeaka Menin, Brianna Miller, and Alex Tessier will play in their second World Cup. It will be a third for Olivia DeMerchant, Laura Russell, Tyson Beukeboom, Karen Paquin, and Elissa Alarie.

Included are five specialist props though both Ngalula Fuamba and McKinley Hunt have played in the front row at club level. Only two specialist scrumhalves are named. Elissa Alarie memorably played scrumhalf in the Semi Final and Final of the 2014 World Cup after Stephanie Bernier was injured.

Eight players have been named on a non-traveling reserve list. Among them are New Zealand-based Cindy Nelles, who played for the New Zealand Barbarians in 2020. Pamphinette Buisa misses out despite being a standout in the Pacific Four earlier this year. Janna Slevinsky was the team’s Player of the Year in 2018 but saw her chances affected by a serious knee injury last fall.

Canada are currently ranked 4th in the World Rankings behind France, New Zealand, and top-ranked England. Their first match in Pool B is against Japan on October 9, followed by Italy on October 16 and the USA on October 23. Prior to arrival in New Zealand they will play a warm-up test against Fiji in Suva.

 

PROP
Olivia DeMerchant (Halifax Tars)
Alex Ellis (Saracens, UK)
Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats)
DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Mikiela Nelson (Capilano)

HOOKER
Gillian Boag (Capilano)
Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads)
Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs, UK)

LOCK
Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan)
Ngalula Fuamba (TMR)
McKinley Hunt (Aurora Barbarians)
Emma Taylor (Halifax RFC)

BACK ROW
Sophie de Goede (capt., Castaway Wanderers)
Fabiola Forteza (CRQ)
Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans)
Karen Paquin (Stade Bordelais, FR)
Gabrielle Senft (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Sara Svoboda (Loughborough Lightning, UK)

SCRUMHALF
Brianna Miller (SABRFC)
Justine Pelletier (CRQ)

FLYHALF
Anaïs Holly (TMR)
Taylor Perry (Oakville Crusaders)
Julia Schell (Guelph Redcoats)

MIDFIELD
Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish)
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Lons, FR)
Alex Tessier (SABRFC)
Marie Thibault (CRQ)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Elissa Alarie (Westshore)
Alysha Corrigan (Saracens, UK)
Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors, UK)
Maddy Grant (Ottawa Gee-Gees)
Sabrina Poulin (TMR)

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES

Maya Montiel (prop, Ottawa Gee-Gees)
Abby Duguid (lock, Loughborough Lightning, UK)
Laetitia Royer (lock, Lons, FR)
Cindy Nelles (lock/back row, University of Canterbury, NZ)
Pamphinette Buisa (back row, Ottawa Irish)
Janna Slevinsky (back row, Calgary Saracens)
Chloe Daniels (utility back, Aurora Barbarians)
Renee Gonzalez (wing, Westshore)