Seven new names in Canada squad for Spain tour

Kévin Rouet has named 30 players in his Canada squad for two upcoming tests in Spain. The team will play against South Africa on Saturday, March 25 before facing the USA a week later. Both take place in Madrid, with the second doubling as the first match of the Pacific Four.

Included are 19 players who traveled to New Zealand for the World Cup this past fall. A dozen others were injured or unavailable. There are 14 players based overseas, among them Sabrina Poulin who is currently suiting up with Spanish club Eibar Taldea.

Among the seven uncapped additions are a pair of UK-based front rowers. Tighthead prop Cassandra Tuffnail was formerly a loose forward with Guelph Gryphons and the Ontario Blues. Hooker or loosehead prop Holly Phillips is Bristol-born but has lived in Canmore, Alberta, for several years and was a standout with the Calgary Dinos.

Other new names are University of Victoria duo Zoe Williams and Justine Blatt-Janmaat. The former is a prop and the latter a scrumhalf from Nova Scotia. Winger Fancy Bermudez has previously featured on the World Seven Series, and Québec collegiate stars Audrey Champagne and Mahalia Robinson could feature at centre and fullback respectively.

 

*denotes uncapped

PROP
Alex Ellis (Saracens, UK)
Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats)
DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Maya Montiel (Saracens, UK)
*Cassandra Tuffnail (Brunel University, UK)
*Zoe Williams (UVic Vikes)

HOOKER
Gillian Boag (Capilano)
*Holly Phillips (Bristol Bears, UK)
Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs, UK)

LOCK
Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan)
Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans)
Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat, FR)
Emma Taylor (Halifax RFC)

BACK ROW
Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish)
Sophie de Goede (capt., Castaway Wanderers)
MP Fauteux (Laval Rouge et Or)
Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais, FR)
Sara Svoboda (Loughborough Lightning, UK)

SCRUMHALF
*Justine Blatt-Janmaat (UVic Vikes)
Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais, FR)

FLYHALF
Julia Schell (Castaway Wanderers)
Alex Tessier (Stade Bordelais, FR)

MIDFIELD
*Audrey Champagne (Laval Rouge et Or)
Sara Kaljuvee (Westshore)
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Lons, FR)

OUTSIDE BACKS
*Fancy Bermudez (Westshore)
Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors, UK)
Renee Gonzalez (UVic Vikes)
Sabrina Poulin (Eibar Taldea, ES)
*Mahalia Robinson (Concordia Stingers)

 

UNAVAILABLE
Veronica Herrigan (hooker)
Olivia DeMerchant (prop)
Mikiela Nelson (prop)
McKinley Hunt (second row)
Karen Paquin (back row)
Gabrielle Senft (back row)
Brianna Miller (scrumhalf)
Taylor Perry (flyhalf)
Alysha Corrigan (centre/wing)
Maddy Grant (centre/wing)
Elissa Alarie (fullback)
Chloe Daniels (utility back)