Canada women's national rugby union team

The Canada women's national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union competitions. They are overseen by Rugby Canada, the governing body of rugby union in Canada.

Canada
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Canucks
Maple Leafs
UnionRugby Canada
Head coachKévin Rouet
CaptainSophie de Goede
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current4 (as of 9 January 2023)
First international
 Canada 3–22 United States 
(Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; 14 November 1987)
Biggest win
 Canada 98–0 Hong Kong 
(Dublin, Ireland; 9 August 2017)
Biggest defeat
 Canada 3–88 New Zealand 
(Edmonton, Canada; 8 September 1996)
World Cup
Appearances9 (First in 1991)
Best resultRunners-up, 2014
Websiterugby.ca/en
Top 20 rankings as of 18 June 2024[1]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1Steady England096.90
2Steady Canada089.13
3Steady New Zealand088.96
4Steady France087.27
5Steady Australia078.36
6Steady Scotland075.99
7Steady United States074.57
8Steady Wales074.28
9Steady Italy074.26
10Steady Ireland073.53
11Steady Japan069.98
12Steady South Africa065.17
13Steady Spain065.15
14Steady Russia061.10
15Steady Fiji059.43
16Steady Netherlands058.98
17Steady Hong Kong058.76
18Steady Samoa058.48
19Steady Kazakhstan055.23
20Steady Sweden052.72
*Change from the previous week

History

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The Canadian women's program began to develop in the 1980s with the first match being played in 1987 in Victoria, British Columbia against another international rugby start-up, the United States.[2] It was the first women's international test match that was played outside of Europe.[3]

In 1991, Canada competed in the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales. The team finished in fifth place after defeating Spain 19–4 in the Plate final. Canada has appeared in every World Cup since 1991.[2]

Canada were finalists at the 2014 Rugby World Cup. They were drawn in the same pool with eventual winners, England. They had a 13 all draw during the pool stage before meeting in the final, Canada lost 21–9 and were runners-up.[4][5][6][7]

In 2022, Canada finished fourth after losing to France in the third place final at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup.[8][9][10]

Competitive record

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World Cup

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World Cup record
YearRoundPositionPWDLFA
1991Plate Winners5th53118037
1994Shield Finalists6th520310546
19983rd Place Play-off4th520352163
20023rd Place Play-off4th42028494
20063rd Place Play-off4th520314528
20105th place match6th520314666
2014Finalists 531111362
20175th place match5th540121360
20213rd Place Play-off4th6402143104
2025Qualified
2029TBD
2033
Total9/9 45242191081660
  Champion   Runner-up   Third place   Fourth place
* Tied placing Best placingHome venue

Head-to-head record

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Overall

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(Full internationals only; Last updated 19 May 2024)

Rugby: Canada internationals 1987-
OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLostPercentage
 Australia20146600100.00%
 England19933631328.33%
 Fiji20221100100.00%
 France19961780947.06%
 Hong Kong20171100100.00%
 Ireland2002320166.67%
 Italy19913300100.00%
 Japan19942200100.00%
 Kazakhstan19942200100.00%
 Netherlands19981100100.00%
 New Zealand19911810175.55%
 Samoa20141100100.00%
 Scotland1994760185.71%
 South Africa20094400100.00%
 Sweden20101100100.00%
 Soviet Union19911100100.00%
 Spain20063300100.00%
 United States1987462701956.52%
 Wales199114102271.43%
Summary19871678338149.7%

Players

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Current squad

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Kevin Rouet named Canada's 30-player squad to the Pacific Four Series on 12 April.[11] On 26 April, Cassandra Tuffnail was replaced by Mya Brubacher due to a pre-camp injury.[12][13]

PlayerPositionDate of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Gillian BoagHooker (1995-02-19)19 February 1995 (aged 29)23 Capilano RFC
Mya BrubacherHooker2002 (aged 22) Kingston Panthers / Queen's University
Sara ClineHooker (1997-05-21)21 May 1997 (aged 26)2 Western Force
Emily TuttosiHooker (1995-09-21)21 September 1995 (aged 28)19 Exeter Chiefs
Olivia DeMerchantProp (1991-02-16)16 February 1991 (aged 33)57 Halifax Tars RFC
Alexandria EllisProp (1995-08-01)1 August 1995 (aged 28)23 Stade Français
Brittany KassilProp (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 33)38 Guelph RFC
DaLeaka MeninProp (1995-06-16)16 June 1995 (aged 28)45 Exeter Chiefs
Tyson BeukeboomLock (1991-03-10)10 March 1991 (aged 33)68 Ealing Trailfinders
McKinley HuntLock (1997-01-05)5 January 1997 (aged 27)14 Saracens
Pamphinette BuisaBack row (1996-12-28)28 December 1996 (aged 27)9 Ottawa Irish
Sophie de Goede (c)Back row (1999-06-30)30 June 1999 (aged 24)24 Saracens
Fabiola FortezaBack row (1995-08-04)4 August 1995 (aged 28)20 Stade Bordelais
Courtney HoltkampBack row (1999-04-25)25 April 1999 (aged 25)28 Red Deer Titans Rugby
Julia OmokhualeBack row2002 (aged 22) Leicester Tigers
Laetitia RoyerBack row (1991-02-09)9 February 1991 (aged 33) ASM Romagnat
Gabrielle SenftBack row (1997-06-13)13 June 1997 (aged 26)18 Stade Bordelais
Sara SvobodaBack row (1995-02-03)3 February 1995 (aged 29)21 Loughborough Lightning
Olivia AppsScrum-half (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 (aged 25)1 Lindsay RFC
Justine PelletierScrum-half (2001-02-27)27 February 2001 (aged 23)18 Stade Bordelais
Claire GallagherFly-half2001 (aged 23)4 Leicester Tigers
Sarah-Maude LachanceFly-half (1998-12-07)7 December 1998 (aged 25)5 Stade Bordelais
Julia SchellFly-half (1996-07-13)13 July 1996 (aged 27)9 Ealing Trailfinders
Alexandra TessierFly-half (1993-09-03)3 September 1993 (aged 30)48 Exeter Chiefs
Fancy BermudezCentre (2002-05-27)27 May 2002 (aged 21)4 Westshore RFC
Madison GrantCentre (2001-03-12)12 March 2001 (aged 23)14 Cornwall Claymores
Shoshanah SeumanutafaCentre Chiefs Manawa
Paige FarriesWing (1994-08-12)12 August 1994 (aged 29)27 Saracens
Sabrina PoulinWing (1992-10-03)3 October 1992 (aged 31)12 Town of Mount Royal RFC
Mahalia RobinsonFullback Town of Mount Royal RFC

Previous squads

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Notable players

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Award winners

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The following Canada players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Khan, Safa. "History of Women's Rugby in Ontario". Rugby Ontario. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. ^ Birch, John (2014-08-16). "An American Century: USA's 100th test". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  4. ^ "How did England win the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup?". IRB. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  5. ^ Butler, Michael (2014-08-17). "Women's Rugby World Cup final: England v Canada – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  6. ^ Riach, James (2014-08-17). "Emily Scarratt's boot hands England World Cup final win over Canada". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  7. ^ "Women's Rugby World Cup: England beat Canada to win final". BBC Sport. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  8. ^ "Blue wave hits Canada as France celebrates Bronze victory". Americas Rugby News. 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  9. ^ "Canadian women fall to France in bronze-medal match at Rugby World Cup". www.cbc.ca. 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  10. ^ "Five-try France blow away Canada to take bronze at Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  11. ^ "30 players named to Canada's Women's Rugby Team for 2024 Pacific Four Series". Rugby Canada. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  12. ^ "Canadian women's rugby team opens Pacific Four Series against U.S. in California". TSN. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  13. ^ "Canada's roster named for opening match of Pacific Four Series against USA". Rugby Canada. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  14. ^ "Heather Moyse to be inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame". CBC.ca. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  15. ^ a b c d "Heather Moyse - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  16. ^ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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