Canada Women face NZ on Friday evening in Kansas City 3:15pm PT
Canada face NZ on Friday evening in Kansas City. The weather forecast for Friday in Kansas City, “Increasingly windy; watch for severe thunderstorms in the afternoon; significant risk of damaging winds, destructive hail, tornadoes and flooding downpours”. It doesn’t sound like the best conditions for expansive rugby, somewhat similar to conditions in California in the previous match versus Australia. It may be a situation where the team that adapts best prospers.
There are a few changes to the last roster, Sophie de Goede gets the start in the second row, that pushes Julia Omokhuale, who had a strong game, to the loose forwards and pushes Pam Buisa, who also had a strong game, to the bench. In the backs Alex Tessier returns to the centres which pushes Claire Gallagher to fullback and Chloe Daniels to the bench.
In the reserves some changes, only Kiki Idowu, Rachel Smith, Corinne Frechette retaining their spots. Lizzie Gibson set to earn her first cap. Kickoff is Friday afternoon at 3:15pm PT.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS NEW ZEALAND
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats / Ontario West (54 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (42 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (70 caps)
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (42 caps)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (23 caps)
6. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (41 caps)
7. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Saracens (7 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (42 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (44 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (24 caps)
11. Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – University of Ottawa / Markham Irish / FC Grenoble Amazones (1 cap)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs (66 caps)
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (26 caps)
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC / Sharks (9 caps)
15. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (20 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – University of British Columbia / Toronto Scottish (1 cap)
17. Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) – Ealing Trailfinders / University of Ottawa (6 caps)
18. Cassandra Tuffnail (Heidelberg, ON) – Ealing Trailfinders (1 cap)
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia (5 caps)
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish / Bristol Bears (19 caps)
21. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Queen’s University / Quebec East (Uncapped)
22. Corinne Frechette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Québec East (1 cap)
23. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University / Bristol Bears (1 cap)
from Rugby Canada
The victory for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team over the New Zealand Black Ferns, 34–19, in the 2025 Rugby World Cup semifinals—dethroning the back-to-back world champions at the time—was a monumental result for rugby in Canada. The two sides are set to meet again this Friday in their second match of the 2026 Pacific Four Series.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, April 17 at 3:15 p.m. PT / 6:15 p.m. ET at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The match will be broadcast live on TSN2 and TSN+ for fans in Canada.
“For many reasons the game against New Zealand at the last world cup was a lot of fun, it was a big moment for our team and for rugby in Canada,” said Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team. “We respect the history of the Black Ferns and the success they have sustained for decades and that’s why it’s important for us to continue to showcase that Canada can also be a strong rugby country and that what we have built is sustainable.”
After missing Canada’s first PAC4 game against Australia due to injury, captain Alexandra Tessier returns to the lineup in the midfield. Sophie de Goede, the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, also returns to the starting lineup at lock after coming off the bench in Canada’s weather-delayed 24–0 win over Australia last weekend.
From Caledon, Ontario, and a standout at Queen’s University, Lizzie Gibson is set to earn her first international cap, having been named to the matchday roster as a reserve.
Aurora Bowie, who earned her first cap for Canada this last Saturday, gets the nod to start on the wing for a second-straight match. Fellow newcomers Chloe Daniels, Kiki Idowu and Corinne Fréchette, who also made their debuts last weekend, are each in line for their second caps and will start the game on the bench. Front-row players Maya Montiel and Cassandra Tuffnail have been named to the matchday roster as reserves.
WHERE TO WATCH
Coverage of Canada’s Pacific Four Series match against New Zealand will be available on TSN2 and TSN+ starting at 3:15pm PT / 6:15pm ET. Broadcast details regarding Canada’s final PAC4 Series match against the United States will be available shortly.
PACIFIC FOUR SERIES SCHEDULE
Canada vs New Zealand
CPKC Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri
Friday April 17 at 3:15 p.m. PT / 6:15 p.m. ET
Canada vs USA
Seat Geek Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
Friday April 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET