Canada Women Face Scotland on Saturday – Coach Rouet Names 23
Canada ranked #3 in the world visits #7 Scotland for a match on Saturday, kickoff is 8:10pm PT. Canada have gone with a 5/3 bench which includes Sophie de Goede as a reserve forward. Savannah Bauder is set to get her first XVs cap from the bench. Charity Williams gets her first cap as starting wing. The interim head coach for Scotland is David Butcher who was the Queen’s men’s XVs coach for six years, he was also used as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s national team programs. Previous to coming to Canada in 2015 he worked for the Scottish Rugby Union.
from Rugby Canada
Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team, Kevin Rouet, has selected the 23-player roster that will take on Scotland this Saturday at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Kickoff for Canada’s opening match of the 2026 WXV Global Series campaign is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. PT / 11:10 p.m. ET and will be available to watch on TSN for rugby fans across Canada.
Canada and Scotland last met in the final match of pool play at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, with the Canadians coming away with a 40-19 win to finish top of the pool.
“We had a good week of preparation in Ireland last week which has carried over as we get ready for Scotland on Saturday,” said Rouet. “As I have mentioned before, these games are very important for us to be able to give younger players experience at the international level while also making sure we field a team that gives us the best chance to win. It’s the first match of WXV for both teams, it should be a great game.”
Sophie de Goede will be available off the bench this weekend for Canada after a prior commitment related to her master’s degree caused her to miss a few days of practice this week. Alexandra Tessier will assume the role of captain for this week’s match against Scotland.
Saturday’s match will be the first of three in Europe for the Canadian women before they return home to play in Toronto and Ottawa this October marking the first time the team will play on home soil since placing second in the 2025 Rugby World Cup. The Rugby Rematch Tour, presented by Canadian Tire, will feature Canada, currently third in the world, facing off against world champion England on October 16 at BMO Field and October 23 and TD Place. Tickets are available HERE.
THREE CANADIANS IN LINE TO MAKE THEIR DEBUT
Two-time Olympic medalist and HSBC SVNS Series star Charity Williams will make her debut in a 15s jersey for Canada following a long and decorated career with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team. Savannah Bauder, who made her debut for Canada on the SVNS Series in 2024, will also look to make her international debut in the 15s game.
Having experience with a variety of Canada’s age-grade programs and currently playing at the University of Ottawa, Sophie McDonald will look to earn her first cap as an option off the bench for Canada.
“It’s always exciting to see players earn their first cap for Canada,” Rouet added. “Myself, the players and staff are all very excited to see what these three can do on the field. Charity obviously has had a very successful sevens career, Savannah is just getting started in hers but has been excellent, and Sophie performed well during the QORC (Quebec Ontario Rugby Championship). All will bring their own flair to the game on Saturday and will give us a chance to win.”
WHERE TO WATCH
Coverage of Canada’s WXV Global Series match against Scotland will be available on TSN starting at 8:10pm PT / 11:10pm ET.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS SCOTLAND
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Ontario West / Guelph Goats (56 caps)
2. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds / Toronto Scottish (3 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs / Calgary Hornets (72 caps)
4. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (7 caps)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University (25 caps)
6. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Saracens / Calgary Irish Rugby Club (9 caps)
7. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Queen’s University / Oakville Crusaders (2 caps)
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Stade Bordelais / Castaway Wanderers (43 caps)
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Saracens / Lindsay RFC (25 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (26 caps)
11. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) – Markham Irish (uncapped)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Exeter Chiefs / Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (68 caps)
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (18 caps)
14. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Loughborough Lightning / Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC (19 caps)
15. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Ealing Trailfinders / Aurora Barbarians (22 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets (44 caps)
17. Sophie McDonald (Ottawa, ON) – Ontario East / University of Ottawa / Ottawa Rugby Club (uncapped)
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) – Loughborough Lightning / Ontario West / Brantford Harlequins (2 caps)
19. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Saracens / Castaway Wanderers (44 caps)
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Loughborough Lightning / Ottawa Irish (21 caps)
21. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec (46 caps)
22. Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – UBC Thunderbirds / Capilano RFC (uncapped)
23. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (11 caps)