Canadian Women Add Ireland to World Cup Warm Up with Matches Upcoming in USA, NZ, Australia, South Africa, Ireland Before RWC in England in August
The Canadian women’s XVs team will be busy this spring and summer as they prepare for the World Cup in August. They’ve added Ireland as part of the build up, with a note in their news release, “additional match announcements for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will be made shortly.”.
First up is the Pacific Four series next month with stops in USA, NZ and Australia. In July there are two matches in South Africa and now one in Ireland in August.
The 36 players selected for the Pacific Four series in May have been named, and listed below. Sophie de Goede is still missing from that selection as she continues her rehabilitation from a torn ACL 40 weeks ago.
from Rugby Canada
Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team, has selected an expanded squad of 36 players who will represent Canada this May at the 2025 Pacific Four Series with matches against the USA, New Zealand and Australia.
The squad will assemble in Chula Vista, California on April 19 for training camp and will be joined by Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team on April 22 for a week of combined training to prepare the teams for the Pacific Four Series and the final stop of the HSBC SVNS series, which takes place in Los Angeles over May 3 to 4.
“The Pacific Four Series marks the start of a very exciting year for women’s rugby in Canada,” said Rouet. “Giving up to 36 players valuable game time and experience at the start of the Rugby World Cup year is very important as we continue to build towards England. Our One Squad philosophy will be on full display with the overlap of the Pacific Four Series and the HSBC SVNS World Championship as we allow players to be available for both competitions.”
By using an expanded travelling roster of 36 players, the maximum number of players permitted to play throughout the Pacific Four Series, some have the potential of being selected to both the Pacific Four Series and the HSBC SVNS World Championship squads. Players listed below who are also selected to Canada’s roster for the final SVNS stop, which will be announced on April 15, will be available to join Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team for the Pacific Four Series matches against New Zealand and Australia.
“We want to give ourselves the best chance to win the Rugby World Cup and finish on the SVNS podium in Los Angeles this year,” said Jocelyn Barrieau, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team. “This format is exactly what our One Squad philosophy is all about and will allow us to put the best teams on the field for the Pacific Four Series and in LA, giving both programs the opportunity for success both short term and long term.”
Canada will kick off the Pacific Four Series against the United States at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on May 2 at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET (7:30pm local time). The team will then travel to New Zealand to play the Black Ferns at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on May 16 at 8:35pm PT / 11:35pm ET (May 17 at 3:35pm local time). Canada will close out the Pacific Four Series against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 22 at 11:55pm PT / May 23 at 2:55am ET (4:55pm local time).
TSN broadcast details will be announced shortly.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM – 2025 PACIFIC FOUR SERIES SQUAD
FORWARDS
Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Stade Français Paris
Alysia Comtois (Magog, QC) – University of Ottawa
Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Cassandra Tuffnail (Heidelberg, ON) – Ealing Trailfinders
Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
Holly Phillips (Canmore, AB) – Banff Bears / Calgary Irish / Bristol Bears
Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Leicester Tigers
Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM Romagnat
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
BACKS
Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC
Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomands / Westshore RFC
Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / Saracens
Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
Justine Blatt-Janmaat (Wolfville, NS) – Westshore RFC / Valley Rugby Union
Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria / Loughborough Lightning
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – Town of Mount Royal RFC
Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Saracens
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team has added another match to their 2025 calendar with the team set to play Ireland on August 9 in Belfast, their final test match before Canada’s Rugby World Cup campaign begins on August 23 in England.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team has added another match to their 2025 calendar with the team set to play Ireland on August 9 in Belfast, their final test match before Canada’s Rugby World Cup campaign begins on August 23 in England.
Canada last faced Ireland during the 2024 WXV 1 tournament on home soil in Langley, BC, defeating the Irish by a score of 21-8.
“This match against Ireland will give us one final opportunity to fine tune our game as we prepare for the Rugby World Cup,” said Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team. “Ireland gave us a tough test last year when we faced them during WXV 1 so I expect them to be a great opponent for our final test as a team before beginning our World Cup journey.”
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will kick off the 2025 season next month in Kansas City for the Pacific Four Series, which will see them also travel to New Zealand and Australia in May. Canada’s 36-player squad for the Pacific Four Series was announced last week.
Additional match announcements for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will be made shortly.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM 2025 SCHEDULE
Canada vs USA (Pacific Four Series)
CPKC Stadium – Kansas City, MO
May 2, 2025 at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET (7:30pm local time)
Canada vs New Zealand (Pacific Four Series)
Apollo Projects Stadium – Christchurch, New Zealand
May 16 at 8:35pm PT / 11:35pm ET (May 17 at 3:35pm local time)
Canada vs Australia (Pacific Four Series)
Suncorp Stadium – Brisbane, Australia
May 22 at 11:55pm PT / May 23 at 2:55am ET (May 23 at 4:55pm local time)
Canada vs South Africa
Loftus Versfeld Stadium – Pretoria, South Africa
July 5 (kick-off time TBA)
Canada vs South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – Gqeberha, South Africa
July 12 (kick-off time TBA)
Canada vs Ireland
Kingspan Stadium – Belfast, Northern Ireland
August 9 (kick-off time TBA)
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)
MISSION: WIN RUGBY WORLD CUP
Rugby Canada officially launched the Mission: Win Rugby World Cup fundraising campaign in March 2025. The goal is to raise $1,000,000 to provide Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team with extra resources to help them make history by winning the Rugby World Cup 2025. As of April, the campaign has raised over 50% of the $1,000,000 goal. With their sights set on a groundbreaking achievement this year in England, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team is currently ranked second in the World Rugby global rankings. For more information or to donate, visit rugby.ca/donate.