Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Magali Harvey is in line to make her first test appearance for Canada in five years after being named in a 32-strong traveling squad for the upcoming England tour. The 33-year-old winger and former World Rugby Player of the Year last represented her country in 2018.
Four uncapped players have been named, including Canada Sevens sensation Krissy Scurfield. Former sevens standout Caroline Crossley is in search of her first XVs cap and is joined among the forwards by Calgary Dinos pair Ashlynn Smith and Julia Omukhuale. The latter has been promoted to the senior squad after a starring performance with the u23 side against the USA.
There are returns from injury for Taylor Perry and Alex Tessier, both of whom add much-needed experience at the flyhalf position ahead of the upcoming WXV series. World Cup prop Mikiela Nelson is also back in the mix after missing out on the Pacific Four matches in Ottawa.
Among the unavailable are flankers Karen Paquin and Pam Buisa, scrumhalf Brianna Miller, and midfielder Sara Kaljuvee. Named in the non-traveling reserves are three England-based players in prop Holly Phillips, lock Emma Taylor, and flyhalf Julia Schell. Former Loughborough lock Abby Duguid and ex-Saracens three-quarter Alysha Corrigan also miss out.
Canada will play two tests against England as a warm-up for the inaugural WXV competition in New Zealand. The first test will be played at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, September 23rd, with the second a week later at StoneX Stadium in London.
PROP
Olivia DeMerchant (Halifax Tars)
Alex Ellis (Saracens, UK)
McKinley Hunt (Saracens, UK)
DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Mikiela Nelson (Capilano)
HOOKER
Gillian Boag (Capilano)
Sara Cline (Leprechaun Tigers)
Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
SECOND ROW
Tyson Beukeboom (Ealing Trailfinders, UK)
Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans)
Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat, FR)
Ashlynn Smith (Calgary Dinos)
BACK ROW
Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers)
Sophie de Goede (capt., Saracens, UK)
Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais, FR)
Julia Omokhuale (Calgary Dinos)
Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers)
Sara Svoboda (Loughborough Lightning, UK)
SCRUMHALF
Olivia Apps (Lindsay RFC)
Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais, FR)
FLYHALF
Claire Gallagher (Ottawa Gee-Gees)
Taylor Perry (Oakville Crusaders)
Alex Tessier (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
MIDFIELD
Fancy Bermudez (Westshore)
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Lons, FR)
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (UBC Thunderbirds)
Florence Symonds (UBC Thunderbirds)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors, UK)
Maddy Grant (Cornwall Claymores)
Magali Harvey (Stade Bordelais, FR)
Sabrina Poulin (Eibar Taldea, ES)
Krissy Scurfield (UVic Vikes)
