Canada women's national rugby union team

For the men's team, see Canada national rugby union team. For the women's sevens team, see Canada women's national rugby sevens team. For the women's rugby league team, see Canada women's national rugby league team.

Canada

Nicknames	Canucks Maple Leafs
Union	Rugby Canada
Head coach	Kévin Rouet
Captain	Sophie de Goede
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	2 (as of 28 October 2024)
Highest	2 (2024)
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
Appearances	9 (First in 1991 )
Best result	Runners-up, 2014
Website	rugby.ca/en

Women's
World Rugby Rankings

• v
• t
• e

Top 20 rankings as of 20 January 2025 ^[1]

Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		England	097.56
2		Canada	089.31
3		New Zealand	088.64
4		France	085.11
5		Australia	078.10
6		Ireland	078.03
7		Scotland	076.82
8		Italy	074.75
9		United States	074.20
10		Wales	072.58
11		Japan	066.41
12		South Africa	066.18
13		Spain	065.42
14		Russia	061.10
15		Samoa	060.56
16		Netherlands	060.20
17		Fiji	059.14
18		Hong Kong	056.20
19		Kazakhstan	055.23
20		Sweden	052.72
*Change from the previous week

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.

History

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

World Cup

Main article: Canada at the Women's Rugby World Cup

World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	P	W	D	L	F	A
1991	Plate Winners	5th	5	3	1	1	80	37
1994	Shield Finalists	6th	5	2	0	3	105	46
1998	3rd Place Play-off	4th	5	2	0	3	52	163
2002	3rd Place Play-off	4th	4	2	0	2	84	94
2006	3rd Place Play-off	4th	5	2	0	3	145	28
2010	5th place match	6th	5	2	0	3	146	66
2014	Finalists		5	3	1	1	113	62
2017	5th place match	5th	5	4	0	1	213	60
2021	3rd Place Play-off	4th	6	4	0	2	143	104
2025	Qualified
2029	TBD
2033
Total	9/9		45	24	2	19	1081	660
Champion  Runner-up  Third place  Fourth place * Tied placing† Best placing Home venue

Head-to-head record

Overall

See also: List of Canada women's national rugby union team matches

(Full internationals only; Last updated 13 October 2024)

Rugby: Canada internationals 1987-

Opponent	First game	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Percentage
Australia	2014	6	6	0	0	100.00%
England	1993	37	3	1	33	8.33%
Fiji	2022	1	1	0	0	100.00%
France	1996	18	9	0	9	50%
Hong Kong	2017	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Ireland	2002	4	3	0	1	75.00%
Italy	1991	3	3	0	0	100.00%
Japan	1994	2	2	0	0	100.00%
Kazakhstan	1994	2	2	0	0	100.00%
Netherlands	1998	1	1	0	0	100.00%
New Zealand	1991	18	1	0	17	5.55%
Samoa	2014	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Scotland	1994	7	6	0	1	85.71%
South Africa	2009	4	4	0	0	100.00%
Sweden	2010	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Soviet Union	1991	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Spain	2006	3	3	0	0	100.00%
United States	1987	46	27	0	19	56.52%
Wales	1991	14	10	2	2	71.43%
Summary	1987	170	85	3	82	50%

Players

Current squad

On 19 September 2024, Kévin Rouet announced Canada's 30-player squad for the WXV 1 competition, taking place in Canada. ^[11]

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Alexandria Ellis	Prop	(1995-08-01)1 August 1995 (aged 29)		Stade Français
Brittany Kassil	Prop	(1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 33)		Guelph Goats
Caroline Crossley	Forward	(1998-04-19)19 April 1998 (aged 26)		Castaway Wanderers
Courtney Holtkamp	Back row	(1999-04-25)25 April 1999 (aged 25)		Red Deer Titans Rugby
DaLeaka Menin	Prop	(1995-06-16)16 June 1995 (aged 29)		Exeter Chiefs
Emily Tuttosi	Hooker	(1995-09-21)21 September 1995 (aged 29)		Exeter Chiefs
Fabiola Forteza	Back row	(1995-08-04)4 August 1995 (aged 29)		Stade Bordelais
Gabrielle Senft	Back row	(1997-06-13)13 June 1997 (aged 27)		Saracens
Gillian Boag	Hooker	(1995-02-19)19 February 1995 (aged 29)		Gloucester-Hartpury
Julia Omokhuale	Back row			Leicester Tigers
Karen Paquin	Back row	(1987-08-03)3 August 1987 (aged 37)		Club de rugby de Quebec
Laetitia Royer	Back row	(1991-02-09)9 February 1991 (aged 33)		ASM Romagnat
McKinley Hunt	Lock	(1997-01-05)5 January 1997 (aged 27)		Saracens
Pamphinette Buisa	Back row	(1996-12-28)28 December 1996 (aged 27)		Ottawa Irish
Rori Wood	Lock			College Rifles RFC
Sara Cline	Hooker	(1997-05-21)21 May 1997 (aged 27)		Leprechaun Tigers
Tyson Beukeboom	Lock	(1991-03-10)10 March 1991 (aged 33)		Trailfinders
Alexandra Tessier	Fly-half	(1993-09-03)3 September 1993 (aged 31)		Exeter Chiefs
Alysha Corrigan	Back	(1997-01-25)25 January 1997 (aged 27)		Canada Sevens
Asia Hogan-Rochester	Back	(1999-04-20)20 April 1999 (aged 25)		Toronto Nomands
Claire Gallagher	Fly-half			Leicester Tigers
Fancy Bermudez	Centre	(2002-05-27)27 May 2002 (aged 22)		Saracens
Julia Schell	Back	(1996-07-13)13 July 1996 (aged 28)		Trailfinders
Justine Pelletier	Scrum-half	(2001-02-27)27 February 2001 (aged 23)		Stade Bordelais
Mahalia Robinson	Fullback			Town of Mount Royal RFC
Olivia Apps	Scrum-half	(1998-12-01)1 December 1998 (aged 25)		Lindsay RFC
Paige Farries	Wing	(1994-08-12)12 August 1994 (aged 30)		Saracens
Sara Kaljuvee	Back	(1993-02-07)7 February 1993 (aged 31)		Toronto Scottish / Westshore RFC
Shoshanah Seumanutafa	Back			Counties Manukau
Taylor Perry	Fly-half	(2000-07-23)23 July 2000 (aged 24)		Exeter Chiefs

Notable players

• Heather Moyse is the first Canadian woman to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016. ^{[12] [13]} She has represented Canada in rugby, cycling and bobsleigh; She won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014. ^[13] She has made 22 international appearances for Canada in 15s and has been to two Women's Rugby World Cups in 2006 and 2010. ^[13] She also helped Canada finish in second place at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia. ^[13]

Award winners

The following Canada players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001: ^[14]

World Rugby Player of the Year Year Nominees Winners 2014 Magali Harvey Magali Harvey Kelly Russell 2022 Sophie de Goede — 2024 Alex Tessier

World Rugby Dream Team of the Year Year No. Players 2021 7. Karen Paquin 2022 2. Emily Tuttosi 8. Sophie de Goede 2024 5. Laetitia Royer 7. Sophie de Goede (2) 12. Alex Tessier

Honours

• Women's Rugby World Cup

Runners-up (1): 2014

• WXV 1

Runners-up (1): 2023

• Pacific Four Series

Champions (2): 2021, 2024

Runners-up (2): 2022, 2023

• Women's Super Series

Champions (1): 2016

• Women's Nations Cup

Champions (1): 2013

Runners-up (2): 2008, 2011

References

1. "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
2. Khan, Safa. "History of Women's Rugby in Ontario". Rugby Ontario. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
3. Birch, John (16 August 2014). "An American Century: USA's 100th test". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
4. "How did England win the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup?". IRB. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
5. Butler, Michael (17 August 2014). "Women's Rugby World Cup final: England v Canada – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 18 February 2022.
6. Riach, James (17 August 2014). "Emily Scarratt's boot hands England World Cup final win over Canada". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
7. "Women's Rugby World Cup: England beat Canada to win final". BBC Sport. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
8. "Blue wave hits Canada as France celebrates Bronze victory". Americas Rugby News. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
9. "Canadian women fall to France in bronze-medal match at Rugby World Cup". www.cbc.ca. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
10. "Five-try France blow away Canada to take bronze at Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
11. "30 players selected to Canada's Women's Rugby Team for WXV 1 in Vancouver". Rugby Canada. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
12. "Heather Moyse to be inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame". CBC.ca. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
13. "Heather Moyse - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
14. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.

External links

• Rugby Canada Official website
• Canadian rugby union news from Planet Rugby