Canada Defeat Ireland 47-26 With a Dominant Five Try First Half: Full Match Video
It was a game of two halves, as Canada had basically won the match by halftime with a 33-7 lead. Canada went through a “blue” patch from about the 60 minute mark up to the final 5 minutes where Ireland scored 3 tries and were playing the better rugby. Canada lost captain Alex Tessier in the first half to an HIA and she didn’t return, her leadership may have been missed during that lull in the second half when the subs had been made. Florence Symonds looked good in the first half with 2 key tries, the player of the match over the full 80 was loose forward Fabiola Forteza.
Canada started a little tentative with the lineout faltering and some knock ons but they had the territorial advantage, at the 10 minute mark after prolonged pressure inside the Ireland 22 the ball got out to captain Alex Tessier and she offloaded to Florence Symonds who beat a defender and scored under the posts, 7-0. Four minutes later scrum half Justine Pelletier spied a gap in the defensive coverage on the edge of the ruck and scampered in for Canada’s second try, Sophie de Goede again converting, 14-0. Daleaka Menin picked up a yellow card at 18 minutes on a TMO intervention, deemed shoulder to head as an Ireland ball carrier was falling. At 20 minutes Ireland scored from a pickup at the ruck, converted, 14-7. Alex Tessier went off for an HIA with Shoshanah Seumanutafa coming on at 23 minutes, a couple of minutes later Florence Symonds scored her second try, beating 2 defenders on a great solo effort. She had been the player of the match for Canada in the first quarter. Canada led 21-7 while still down to 14 players.
Ireland picked up a yellow for repeat infringements inside their 22 and now Canada had the advantage. The game was played inside the Ireland 22 and then inside the Ireland 5 metres, eventually Daleaka Menin powered her way over the line, 26-7 with 7 minutes left in the half. Canada scored once more to end the half, finding numbers out wide and Paige Farries the final receiver dove over in the corner, Sophie de Goede made the difficult conversion, 33-7 at the half.
Ireland came out in the second half with more intent, they were getting more territory and playing more in the Canada end. Canada were easing up in their defensive line speed with the game apparently in hand. Canada replaced their front row at the 50 minute mark. Julia Schell scored an end to end try off an Ireland dropped ball, 40-7 after 55 minutes. Canada made some replacements as Pam Buisa came on as loose forward and Olivia Apps came on at scrum half. Ireland would score the next 3 tries. Their first score was out wide as Canada were down to 14 players with Buisa down behind the play and the trainer attending to her, she would be replaced by Courtney O’Donnell. Ireland scored again within a couple of minutes as Canada’s defence just evaporated and the winger scored from about 40 metres out, 40-19 with a quarter to play. Ireland scored next at 70 minutes, again out wide with the overlap. Ireland were playing the better rugby during this 15 minute blue patch for Canada. Canada regained their composure for the last few minutes of the match and played inside the Ireland half, Sophie de Goede scoring the try at the whistle and converting 47-26.
It was the opposite of the USA game where Canada put in a strong second half to win, in this match they had won the match by half time but then lost their focus in the second half when the subs came on and with captain Alex Tessier not returning from her HIA they perhaps missed her leadership when things started to go wrong. Sophie de Goede, the former captain, stepped up in the final minutes to give Canada a strong finish going into the World Cup.
Full Match Video
from Rugby Canada
In their final warm-up game ahead of the Rugby World Cup, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team defeated Ireland 47–26 at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday afternoon.
Canada used a dominant five-try first half to power their way to victory. Florence Symonds scored twice in the opening 25 minutes, making it five tries in her last four games. Justine Pelletier, DeLeaka Menin, and Paige Farries added the other three tries to put Canada up 33-7 at the break.
Julia Schell and Sophie de Goede scored Canada’s two second-half tries. Off the tee, de Goede was successful on six of her seven conversion attempts.
Canada’s Fabiola Forteza was named Player of the Match after a strong performance across the pitch, excelling both in set pieces and open play.
“Really happy with what we delivered today,” said Forteza. “It was a grind at the beginning of the game, but we started finding our flow, our tempo, and that is what we do best. We expected a physical game against the Irish, and that is what we got.”
The win means Canada will officially begin the Rugby World Cup ranked second in the world, following a 16–5–1 record since the last World Cup in 2022. This includes victories over third-ranked New Zealand and fourth-ranked France.
Today’s result also sees Canada surpass the 90-point mark in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings for the first time since the system was introduced in February 2016.
“We feel ready,” said Forteza when asked about Canada’s World Cup preparedness. “The build-up with our tour to South Africa, Ottawa, and now here in Ireland has really helped us build our connections. Playing more rugby has helped us find our flow.”
Captain Alexandra Tessier earned her 60th cap for Canada, becoming just the fifth player in Canadian women’s rugby history to reach the milestone, alongside Tyson Beukeboom, Gillian Florence, DeLeaka Menin, and Olivia DeMerchant. Unfortunately, Tessier’s day ended early after she was removed in the first half under HIA (Head Injury Assessment) protocol. Tessier joined her teammates on the bench in the second half to watch the reminder of the match.
CANADA SCORING SUMMARY
Tries: Florence Symonds (10’, 25’), Justine Pelletier (14’), DeLeaka Menin (33’), Paige Farries (40’), Julia Schell (55’), Sophie de Goede (79’)
Conversions: Sophie de Goede (6)
UP NEXT FOR CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM
Canada’s opening match of the 2025 Rugby World Cup will be against Fiji on Saturday August 23 at York Community Stadium in York, England. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30pm local time (9:30am PT / 12:30pm) and will be available on TSN and TSN+.
Canada proved too quick, too slick and ultimately sent Ireland off to the World Cup with a dispiriting 47-26 defeat at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast.
The world number two side outscored Ireland seven tries to four and, despite a second-half surge from the hosts, were a class above throughout.
Expecting a step up from last weekend’s win over Scotland, Ireland had no real answer to the power and pace of the visitors, but had themselves largely to blame for many of the five first-half tries with poor discipline and poor tackling proving costly.
Canada were 14-0 up when Béibhinn Parsons got the home crowd on their feet with a well-taken try but that was as much as Ireland had to show for in a mistake-riddled 40 minutes.
Anna McGann led an Irish comeback of sorts in the second half, scoring twice in three minutes, while Parsons grabbed her second in the closing stages.
Head coach Scott Bemand will on Monday name his 32-player squad for the World Cup, where they face Japan, Spain and New Zealand, and he’ll have plenty to work on before their opening game in Northampton on 24 August.
Ireland briefly held possession at the start with Parsons taking a fine catch from the kick off but when they conceded a scrum penalty after five minutes, they were soon behind.
They appeared to have gotten out of jail when they won a turnover close to the line after Canada had won a variey of penalties inside the Irish 22.
However, out-half Dannah O’Brien missed touch from the kick and second row Sophie de Goede punched up the middle to put Canada on the front foot.
Captain Alexandra Tessier offloaded to centre partner Florence Symonds, who brushed Enya Breen aside and cut past O’Brien to score under the posts.
The hosts, who had made 10 changes to the side that beat Scotland last weekend, fell further behind when scrum-half Justine Pelletier encountered no defenders at a ruck on the 22 and ran in.
However, Ireland did manage to land a blow after the visitors were temporarily reduced to 14 with prop DaLeaka Menin sin-binned for a high tackle on Ivana Kiripati.
Grace Moore and Niamh O’Dowd brought Ireland into the 22 with strong carries before the ball came to Parsons on the wing.
The Galway woman was well marshalled and taken down by two tacklers but showed great awareness to release and pick up before a ruck formed and raced in for a try converted by O’Brien.
But some aimless kicking and poor tackling kept handing Kevin Rouet’s side chances and they were able to take full advantage.
Aoife Dalton missed a straight-up tackle on Symonds on the 22 and the centre scored under the posts.
Captain Neve Jones paid the price for the team’s continued transgressions, seeing yellow after coming in from the side, one of 11 first-half penalties conceded.
The powerful Canada pack kept the ball in tight on the line with Menin powering over after Karen Paquin and Fabiola Forteza were stopped short.
Ireland got back to 15 for the final passage of play but couldn’t see out the half, Breen kicking out on the full to give Canada possession on the 22.
More poor tackling allowed the Canadians to get front-foot ball and winger Paige Farries scored in the corner, with second row de Goede kicking her fourth conversion of the half for a 33-7 lead.
Whatever the mitigation from so many players seeing their first action of the season, Bemand could not have been happy with so much of the display and Ireland came out fired up at the start of the second half.
Aoibheann Reilly made 30 yards on a break off the back of a scrum and Ireland camped inside the Canada 22.
Captain Sam Monaghan, who had come on for Kiripati on the flank, and Fiona Tuite secured possession at the lineout but the ball was fumbled forward under the posts and the North Americans cleared into the Irish half.
It didn’t take long for Canada to get their first score of the half when O’Brien was careless with the ball in contact and full-back Julia Schell ran in from 60 yards.
But Ireland’s response was impressive, with McGann scoring two tries in three minutes.
Their best passage of play brought them into the 22 and Flood floated a pass for McGann, who finished well in the corner.
Moments later the Connacht back had doubled up, this time coming off her wing to cut through the Canada midfield and stretch for the line.
Another multi-phase move let to another Parsons try, with O’Brien, Eve Higgins and Flood keeping cool close to the line before the winger touched down.
However, it was fitting that Canada finished off the scoring.
Flood had been sent to the bin for a high tackle and De Goede powered over and then converted her own try.
SCORERS
Ireland: Tries – Parsons (2), McGann (2)
Cons: O’Brien (3)
Canada: Tries – Symonds (2), Pelletier, Menin, Farries, Schell, De Goede
Cons: De Goede (6)
Canada Name Match 23 for Ireland Clash as Last Warmup Game Before World Cup
It’s the last warmup game before the World Cup and the most difficult as Canada plays #5 Ireland in Belfast. It’s a mostly unchanged lineup with Caroline Crossley getting the start in the loose forwards with Gabrielle Senft not in the roster. The other change sees Justine Pelletier getting the start at scrum half with Olivia Apps in the reserves. Alysha Corrigan starts on the wing with Fancy Bermudez not in the roster. On the bench some changes from the USA match, with Brittany Kassil, Emily Tuttosi, Sarah-Maude Lachance making an appearance.
There’s ranking implications, Canada will drop to 3rd and NZ rise to 2nd if Ireland win, a win by Canada will secure their 2nd place ranking going into the World Cup. Ireland will remain 5th regardless of the match result. A win for Canada will see them break through the 90-point barrier for the first time since the World Rugby Women’s Rankings were introduced in February 2016.
The game will kickoff at 4am PST, 12pm local time.
Canada Team
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
5. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
6. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
7. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
10. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
11. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Saracens
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
18. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC
19. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
22. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
23. Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
World Rugby Notes
Canada
- They have been drawn in Pool B and will face Fiji in York on 23 August, Wales in Manchester on 30 August and Scotland in Exeter on 6 September.
- Canada are unbeaten this year (P6, W5, D1), having beaten USA 42-10 last weekend and won their two-test series with South Africa in July. These wins came on the back of two victories and a draw in the Pacific Four Series 2025 in May.
- Canada’s victory over the USA at TD Place Stadium last Friday was played before a crowd of 11,453 – a record for a standalone women’s rugby match in North America.
- The home side fell behind in the second minute, but had edged ahead 14-10 by half-time thanks to a penalty try and a score by McKinley Hunt, the latter converted by the returning Sophie de Goede.
- Canada would score 35 unanswered points from trailing 10-7 to seal an 11th consecutive victory over their neighbours, 28 of them coming in a dominant second-half performance.
- Gabrielle Senft, Olivia DeMerchant, Florence Symonds and Mikiela Nelson dotted down the tries with De Goede converting three and Julia Schell one.
- Canada had won the first match against the Springbok Women in Pretoria, 50-20, before registering a 33-5 win against the same opposition seven days later in Gqeberha.
- Holly Phillips made her test debut for Canada off the bench in the first encounter.
- Prolific points-scoring number eight Sophie de Goede made her comeback in the second game with 23 minutes off the bench.
- It was De Goede’s first test appearance in 14 months after she suffered a torn ACL in 2024.
- Julia Schell is the team’s leading points scorer in 2025, having scored a try and kicked 17 conversions for a combined total of 39 points.
- In May, Canada lost their Pacific Four Series title to New Zealand on points difference, after both sides finished level in the standings on 13 points.
- Canada kicked off with a 26-14 victory against the Women’s Eagles before a US record crowd for a women’s rugby international in Kansas City and then overcame Australia 45-7 in their final match, with a thrilling 27-27 draw against New Zealand sandwiched in between.
- It was Canada’s first draw since they played out a 13-13 stalemate with England at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 in France and ended their five-match winning run in the Pacific Four Series.
- Seven players weighed in with tries against Australia in McKinley Hunt, Karen Paquin, Julia Schell, Laetitia Royer, Krissy Scurfield, Alex Tessier and Fabiola Forteza.
- Canada had looked set for back-to-back wins over New Zealand after Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s try in the 77th minute gave the visitors a 27-22 lead after earlier tries for DaLeaka Menin, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Olivia Apps and Alysha Corrigan.
- However, New Zealand snatched a draw after Sylvia Brunt found her way over the line, Ruahei Demant missing the conversion that would have secured the win.
- Canada were crowned champions in 2024 after wins against USA (50-7), Australia (33-14) and New Zealand (22-19).
- It was the first time they had beaten the Black Ferns in 18 attempts.
- In a match full of historical significance, Tyson Beukeboom became Canada’s most-capped women’s player with her 68th test appearance.
- Canada finished third at WXV 1 2024 on home soil, with wins over France and Ireland giving them a shot at a second title of the year. However, they were beaten 21-12 by England in the tournament’s decisive match.
from Rugby Canada
Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team match day roster for their final warm-up match ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Canada will face Ireland on Saturday, August 9 at 12:00 p.m. local time (4:00 a.m. PST / 7:00 a.m. EST) at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The two teams last met during the 2024 WXV 1 tournament, where Canada defeated Ireland 21-8 on home soil in Langley, British Columbia.
“The World Cup is right around the corner so this last warm up game is going to very important for the team,” said Rouet. “We have been building for the last three years so I know we are ready for the World Cup but this game against Ireland is one last opportunity to focus on the details of our game and system to make sure we are as prepared as possible for the World Cup. Ireland will be a tough opponent, they showed that to us last year at WXV so we have to be ready for the challenge on Saturday. They are a top-five team in the world.”
Rouet has made three changes to the starting lineup that defeated the USA last Friday in Ottawa in front of a record-breaking crowd of 11,453.
Caroline Crossley comes into the back row, replacing Gabrielle Senft, with Fabiola Forteza shifting to the No. 8 position. Justine Pelletier, who came off the bench against the Americans, will start at scrum-half, while Olivia Apps moves to the bench. Alysha Corrigan returns to the lineup for her first game action since Canada’s July 5 match against South Africa.
Also named to the match day roster is Sarah-Maude Lachance, who is in line for her first appearance in a Canadian jersey since May 2, when she came off the bench and scored a try in Canada’s Pacific Four Series match against the USA in Kansas City.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada’s match versus Ireland on August 9 will kick off at 12:00pm local time (4:00am PST / 7:00am EST) and will be available on TSN+.