Canada Defeat South Africa 50-20 in Match #1
Canada won their first match in South Africa taking a 26-3 half time lead and finishing off with two late tries to win 50-20. The Canada backline looked dangerous during periods of the match finding space out wide but the Canadian forwards weren’t as dominant in this match compared to recent performances. The scrum was under pressure for most of the match. Canada were in control from the opening whistle but won’t be happy with the 3 second half tries they conceded considering they were playing a team ranked 10 places below them.
Also of concern to coaches would be key players that went down with injury and had to be helped from the field, Fancy Bermudez and Olivia Apps. The next match is July 12th
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team began their South Africa tour with a 50-20 victory over the Springbok women at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon.
Florence Symonds, named player of the match, and Alysha Corrigan led the Canadian women on the day, each scoring two tries accounting for a total of 20 points in the win. Off the kicking tee, Julia Schell slotted five of her eight conversions attempts to give Canada 10 points from the boot.
The first half was highlighted by Symonds’ first international try for Canada’s 15s team, playing in her ninth test match. Symonds’ milestone try in the 29th minute gave Canada a 19-3 lead which the Canadians later increased to 26-3 before the halftime whistle.
Scoring four tries in the opening 40 minutes, Canada doubled their try total in the match with another four in the second half. Symonds’ added her second of the match, Corrigan scored twice and Caroline Crossley, playing in her fifth test match, rounded out the scoring with her first try for Canada’s 15s team in the final minute of play.
“We put in a big shift out there,” Symonds said post-match. “We were down to 14 players at one point so we were thrown that challenge but we were ready for it and that’s what we prepare for. I am really proud of this team, we backed each other.”
After entering the match in the second half, Canmore’s Holly Phillips won her first international cap for Canada. Tyson Buekeboom, the most capped Canadian women’s rugby player, earned a milestone 75th cap, coming onto the pitch at the 64-minute mark of the game.
Fancy Bermudez, who was forced to leave the game due to injury and taken off the field on a stretcher as a precaution, has since been medically cleared and rejoined the team after the match.
SCORING SUMMARY
Tries: Florence Symonds (29’, 77’), Alysha Corrigan (45’, 57’), DaLeaka Menin (6’), Fancy Bermudez (17’), Laetitia Royer (34’), Caroline Crossley (80’)
Conversions: Julia Schell (5)
UP NEXT FOR CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM
Canada’s second of back-to-back matches against South Africa will go on July 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) and will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.
JULY 5 MATCH DAY ROSTER: CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM vs SOUTH AFRICA
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
6. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat
7. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs
11. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / 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. Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) – Banff Bears / Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
21. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
Canada Name Roster for Match #1 in South Africa on Saturday
There’s still no sign of Sophie de Goede in the roster and there are a few changes from the team’s last match against Australia in May. The front row remains the same with Hunt, Boag, Menin. Caroline Crossley gets the start at second row with Tyson Beukeboom going to the reserves, Courtney O’Donnell retains her spot. In the loose forwards Karen Paquin isn’t in the match 23 and Fabiola Forteza moves to openside from #8 with Gabrielle Senft getting the start at #8, Laetitia Royer remains at #6. The big change in the backs is Taylor Perry getting the start at #10 with Claire Gallagher not in the roster. Canada are playing a 6/2 split on the bench and Rouet has gone with a backup scrum half and centre on the bench. The only other change in the backs is Fancy Bermudez replacing Krissy Scurfield on the wing.
The match kicks off at 4:30am PT on Saturday, July 5th.
Canada Women
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
6. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat
7. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs
11. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / 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. Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) – Banff Bears / Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
21. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
from Rugby Canada
Thursday July 3, 2025 (Pretoria, South Africa) — Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s roster for the first of two matches against the Springbok Women in South Africa.
Canada and South Africa will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) on Saturday July 5 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, taking to the pitch ahead the opening match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series between the Springboks and Italy.
Captained by Alexandra Tessier, the roster includes two players who won the France Elite 1 championship with Stade Bordelais at the end of May following the Pacific Four Series, Fabiola Forteza and Justine Pelletier. Starting in the front row are two players who will be competing in their 30th cap for Canada, Gillian Boag and McKinley Hunt.
Canmore’s Holly Phillips, who played in the PWR semi-finals this season with the Bristol Bears, could make her debut for Canada off the bench.
“These next two matches in South Africa will be a fantastic opportunity to build depth and confidence amongst the squad and for the players to showcase themselves with the World Cup coming up quickly,” said Rouet. “Saturday will be about focusing on the style of the game we want to play going forward and all the small details that come with that.”
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada’s match versus South Africa on July 5 will kick off at 1:30pm local time (4:30am PT / 7:30am ET) and will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM 2025 SCHEDULE
Canada vs South Africa
Loftus Versfeld Stadium – Pretoria, South Africa
July 5 at 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET (1:30pm local time)
Canada vs South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – Gqeberha, South Africa
July 12 at 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET (1:30pm local time)
Canada vs United States
TD Place – Ottawa, Ontario
August 1 at 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
BUY TICKETS HERE
Canada vs Ireland
Kingspan Stadium – Belfast, Northern Ireland
August 9 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)
Canada vs Fiji (Rugby World Cup)
York Community Stadium – York, England
August 23 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET (5:30pm local time)
Canada vs Wales (Rugby World Cup)
Salford Community Stadium – Manchester, England
August 30 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)
Canada vs Scotland (Rugby World Cup)
Sandy Park – Exeter, England
September 6 at 4:00am PT / 7:00am ET (12:00pm local time)