Julia Omokhuale Replaces Pam Buisa in World Cup Squad
Rugby Canada announced a change in the squad at the women’s Rugby World Cup, their post on social media stated “After suffering an injury in Canada’s match against Ireland, Pamphinette Buisa has been ruled out of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Wishing you a speedy recovery Pamphinette! Julia Omokhuale has been called into the squad as a replacement.” They kick off their tournament on August 23rd against Fiji.
Canada Announce 32 Player Squad for Women’s Rugby World Cup in England Starting August 22nd
Kevin Rouet announced his 32 player squad for the Rugby World Cup. Canada have a warm up match vs USA in Ottawa on August 1st and a match versus Ireland planned for August 9th in Belfast before their World Cup opener against Fiji on August 23rd.
Canada have gone for a 19/13 split on forwards/backs while England and NZ have gone to a 18/14 split. Canada signalling their intentions for a forwards leaning attack. One of the casualties on that decision may be Krissy Scurfield who was a surprise omission from the 32 player list and likely would have been on a list of 14 backs. With two games before the World Cup there’s still a chance she may feature as an injury replacement. On the subject of injury replacements it was a tough blow for prop Rori Wood who was injured in the last match and was ruled out of the World Cup squad for that reason.
from Rugby Canada
Ranked second in the world, Canada’s 32-player squad for the Rugby World Cup 2025, kicking off next month in England, has been named by Head Coach Kevin Rouet.
“We believe in the group we have selected and we believe in the process we have taken to get to this point, but the work isn’t done yet,” said Rouet. “It all starts next month in England when we enter the next stage of our World Cup journey and officially get on the field in that first match against Fiji.”
Captain of the team in England will be 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee, Alexandra Tessier. She has earned 59 caps for Canada, scoring six tries and 53 points over her ten-year international career that includes representing Canada at the Rugby World Cup in 2017 and 2021 (played in 2022).
Twenty-one players return from the 2021 Rugby World Cup team including veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant and Karen Paquin who will all represent Canada at the Rugby World Cup for a fourth time.
Sophie de Goede, named to the 2022 and 2024 World Rugby Women’s Dream Team, will compete in her second Rugby World Cup. De Goede made her long-awaited return to the Canadian lineup earlier this month in South Africa, her first time back on the field in over a year following a significant knee injury.
Canada’s leading try-scorer at the last World Cup with six, Emily Tuttosi, will play in her second Rugby World Cup. Tuttosi’s performance earned her a spot on the 2022 World Rugby Dream Team of the Year.
With Rugby Canada’s “One Squad” philosophy on full display, seven players who won a silver medal with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics have been selected; Caroline Crossley, Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry.
The 2025 Rugby World Cup will be the first for 11 players including Rachel Smith, Taylor McKnight, Claire Gallagher, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Laetitia Royer and Maya Montiel.
“Selecting the World Cup squad forced the coaching staff to make some very difficult decisions,” added Rouet. “Since the last World Cup, our focus has been on building depth in the squad, so we had more than just 32 players who could step on the field and perform at any moment. We achieved our goal but as a result it meant needing to make some very challenging decisions.”
Prior to the team departing, Canada will compete in its final home match at TD Place in Ottawa on Friday, August 1 vs USA. The match aims to surpass a new attendance record for a women’s rugby match in North America that was previously set at the stadium in 2023. Tickets are on sale HERE, and the roster for this specific game will be announced on Wednesday, July 30.
At the Rugby World Cup in England, Canada will compete in Pool B alongside Scotland, Wales and Fiji. Their first match will be against Fiji at the York Community Stadium in York on Saturday, August 23 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET (5:30pm local time). Click here for the full Pool B schedule.
WHERE TO WATCH
All of Canada’s Rugby World Cup matches will be available live on TSN and TSN+. Earlier this year Rugby Canada and TSN announced a long-term agreement bringing increased coverage in 2025 and beyond for rugby fans in Canada.
2025 RUGBY WORLD CUP SQUAD – CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM
FORWARDS
Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Courtney O’Donnell (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
Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens
Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) – Saracens
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC
Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
Taylor McKnight (Stouffville, ON) – University of Guelph / Aurora Barbarians
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 / Saracens
Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC
Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
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 Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
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
TEAM STAFF
Head Coach – Kevin Rouet
Assistant Coach – Alex Austerberry, Carolyn McEwen, Conor Twomey, David Butcher, Iain Monaghan, Jocelyn Barrieau, Martial Lagain
Team Manager – Dustin Hopkins
Strength & Conditioning – Clarence Gay, Travis Dorsey
Analyst – Stacey Maskelyne, Richard Owen
Team Doctor – Anthony Dixon, Adam Pyle
Physiotherapist – Allison Rodway, Amelie Michaud
Media – Braedan Willis, Jordan Jones