Kevin Rouet Names Match 23 to Face England: Sophie de Goede Returns to Starting XV
Canada last defeated #1 England on July 1st 2016 in Utah, 52-17. Since then they’ve lost 14 times, including the World Cup final last year. Canada will get two more cracks at them this year when they host England in Toronto and Ottawa in October. Coach Kevin Rouet has only made a few changes from the Scotland game, Sophie de Goede moves from the bench to starting second row, moving Rachel Smith to blindside flanker and Lizzie Gibson to #8. Gibson was outstanding against Scotland. Loosehead prop Brittany Kassil received a two game ban for a red card so Mikiela Nelson gets the start. The only other change in the starting XV is Asia Hogan-Rochester replaces Fancy Bermudez on the wing. On the bench Gillian Boag replaces Emily Tuttosi as reserve hooker and Fabiola Forteza comes into the reserves as Canada switches from a 5/3 to a 6/2 bench for the England match.
from Rugby Canada
In a rematch of the 2025 Rugby World Cup final, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will take on England this Saturday September 19 at Sandy Park in Exeter. Head coach Kevin Rouet has selected Canada’s match day roster for the first meeting between the two sides since 82,000 fans gathered inside Allianz Stadium in London last year, setting a record for the largest crowd at a women’s rugby match in history. The game will be broadcast live on TSN5 and the TSN app, starting at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET.
“It’s always an exciting challenge to go against England,” said Rouet. “This is why you coach and play, to test yourself against the best. Playing England in England is never easy but this is the first of three opportunities we have to play against them, the next two will be in Canada so this week is another step in our journey to test ourselves and make sure we are ready to perform in Canada in front of our fans.”
Saturday’s match will be the first of three matches against England for the Canadian women this fall, with the next two games being played at home in Toronto and Ottawa this October. The matches will mark the first time the team plays on home soil since placing second at last year’s Rugby World Cup. The Rugby Rematch Tour, presented by Canadian Tire, will see Canada face England on October 16 at BMO Field in Toronto and October 23 at TD Place in Ottawa.
Sophie de Goede returns to the starting fifteen at lock and will captain the Canadian side once again, marking the 25th time in her international career. De Goede’s return moves Rachel Smith from the second row to the back row, where she will join Julia Omokhuale and Lizzie Gibson, who scored twice for Canada last week against Scotland.
After earning her first 15s cap last weekend, two-time Olympic medalist Charity Williams retains her spot in the starting fifteen, opposite Asia Hogan-Rochester, who scored both of Canada’s tries in last year’s World Cup final against England and has tallied 10 tries in 12 appearances in her career for the Canadian 15s squad.
Canada’s Brittany Kassil was unavailable for selection after a red card she received in last week’s game against Scotland resulted in a two-game ban, forcing her to miss Canada’s final two September fixtures in Europe against England and France.
WHERE TO WATCH
Coverage of Canada’s WXV Global Series match against England will be available on TSN5 and the TSN app starting at 7:00am PT / 10:00am ET on Saturday September 19.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS ENGLAND
1. Mikiela Nelson (Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC (12 caps)
2. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds / Toronto Scottish (4 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs / Calgary Hornets (73 caps)
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Saracens / Castaway Wanderers (45 caps)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University (26 caps)
6. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (8 caps)
7. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Saracens / Calgary Irish Rugby Club (10 caps)
8. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Queen’s University / Oakville Crusaders (3 caps)
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Saracens / Lindsay RFC (26 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (27 caps)
11. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) – Markham Irish (1 cap)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Exeter Chiefs / Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (69 caps)
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (19 caps)
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (12 caps)
15. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Ealing Trailfinders / Aurora Barbarians (23 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC (39 caps)
17. Sophie McDonald (Ottawa, ON) – Ontario East / University of Ottawa / Ottawa Rugby Club (1 cap)
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) – Loughborough Lightning / Ontario West / Brantford Harlequins (3 caps)
19. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Loughborough Lightning / Ottawa Irish (22 caps)
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Stade Bordelais / Castaway Wanderers (44 caps)
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec (47 caps)
23. Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – UBC Thunderbirds / Capilano RFC (1 cap)