Canada names training squad for WXV

Kévin Rouet has named a Canada squad of 35 to prepare for the upcoming WXV tournament. This year’s top division will be hosted in Vancouver, with the Maple Leafs to line up opposite France, Ireland, and England on successive weekends beginning September 29.

Two-thirds of the roster are based overseas, with most of those signed to English Premiership or French
Élite squads. Two are in Super Rugby, one each in Australia and New Zealand. Seven players were on the squad that captured Silver at the Paris Olympics.

Openside flanker Karen Paquin and scrumhalf Brianna Miller return to contention for the first time since the World Cup in 2022. Uncapped UBC lock Rori Wood earns an invitation after playing for the Selects squad that traveled to Spain in June.

Canada will be without captain Sophie de Goede for the tournament, the Saracens star suffering a knee injury in training ahead of the Olympic Games. Among other notable absentees are flanker Sara Svoboda and outside backs Krissy Scurfield, Maddy Grant, and Sarah-Maude Lachance.

The team has now assembled at Rugby Canada’s national training centre in Langford for a two-week training camp. A final squad for the tournament will be named at the camp’s conclusion.

 

PROP
Alex Ellis (Stade Français, FR)
McKinley Hunt (Saracens, UK)
Brittany Kassil (Guelph RFC)
DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Maya Montiel (Saracens, UK)
Mikiela Nelson (Exeter Chiefs, UK)

HOOKER
Gillian Boag (Capilano RFC)
Sara Cline (Western Force, AU)
Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs, UK)

SECOND ROW
Tyson Beukeboom (Ealing Trailfinders, UK)
Abby Duguid (Loughborough Lightning, UK)
Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans)
Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat, FR)
Rori Wood (UBC Thunderbirds)

BACK ROW
Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish)
*Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers)
Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais, FR)
Julia Omokhuale (Leicester Tigers, UK)
Karen Paquin (CRQ)
Gabrielle Senft (Stade Bordelais, FR)

SCRUMHALF
*Olivia Apps (Lindsay RFC)
Brianna Miller (SABRFC)
Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais, FR)
Mahalia Robinson (TMR)

FLYHALF
Claire Gallagher (Leicester Tigers, UK)
*Taylor Perry (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Julia Schell (Ealing Trailfinders, UK)
Alexandra Tessier (Exeter Chiefs, UK)

MIDFIELD
*Fancy Bermudez (Saracens, UK)
*Chloe Daniels (Queen’s Gaels)
Sara Kaljuvee (UBC Thunderbirds)
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Chiefs Manawa, NZ)

WING
*Alysha Corrigan (Saracens, UK)
Paige Farries (Saracens, UK)
*Florence Symonds (UBC Thunderbirds)

*Olympic 7s member