Canada names Women’s squad for Can-Am Series

Sandro Fiorino has named a 28-strong traveling group in his Canada Women’s side to play in the upcoming Can-Am Series. The team will play tests against the USA on November 20 and 24 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, the site of this year’s Super Series where Canada were narrowly defeated 20-18 by their close rivals.

Included in the group are 19 who took part in the Super Series though incumbent captain Laura Russell and fellow World Cup selects Jacey Grusnick and Amanda Thornborough have been left with Fiorino looking to build depth ahead of the 2021 World Cup. There remain eight participants from 2017, among them vice-captain Elissa Alarie who is a strong contender to lead the side in Russell’s absence.

There are recalls for World Cup prop Brittany Kassil and promising hooker Mackenzie Carson, the latter one of three forwards who play their club rugby overseas. Also named are four uncapped players – Capilano prop Mikiela Nelson, loose forwards Maddy Grant and Temi Ogunjimi, and UBC centre Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

Other additions include the return of Ireland-based lock Emma Taylor and versatile Trinity Western back Tausani Levale. 2019 USports Player of the Year Fabiola Forteza continues with the group. The flanker led the Laval Rouge et Or to their first ever national title this past weekend.

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Fredericton Loyalists), Veronica Harrigan (London St. George’s), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), DaLeaka Menin (Loughborough Lightning, UK), Mikiela Nelson (Capilano), Gillian Boag (UBC Thunderbirds), Mackenzie Carson (Saracens, UK) Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan Piggies), Courtney Holtkamp (Alberta Pandas), McKinley Hunt (Queen’s Gaels), Emma Taylor (Railway Union, IR), Sophie de Goede (Queen’s Gaels), Marie-Pier Fauteux (Sherbrooke Abénakis), Fabiola Forteza (Laval Rouge et Or), Madison Grant (Ottawa Gee-Gees), Temi Ogunjimi (Calgary Hornets), Janna Slevinky (Windsor Hants County)

BACKS
Lori Josephson (Guelph Redcoats), Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Taylor Black (Queen’s Gaels), Alex Tessier (SABRFC), Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish), Tausani Levale (Trinity Western Spartans), Shoshanah Seumanutafa (UBC Thunderbirds), Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown RFC), Paige Farries (UVic Vikes), Elissa Alarie (SABRFC), Irene Patrinos (Toronto Saracens)