Canada Defeat Australia 24-0 in Blustery Conditions
It wasn’t ideal playing conditions, a water logged field, driving rain and a weather delay due to lightning but Canada managed to score four tries for a bonus point while keeping Australia off the board. It wasn’t champagne rugby but Canada’s defence got the job done. Outstanding for Canada were Justine Pelletier at scrum half, Julia Omokhuale in the second row, Pam Buisa at flanker and Brittany Kassil at loosehead prop.
There was room improvement as they plan for NZ on Friday. At least three kicks from penalties failed to find touch and gave away an advantage. That lack of precision will be costly in closer matches. Sophie de Goede, 2025 Player of the Year, came on in the 2nd half to play #8 but the lack of playing time showed with a number of dropped balls. She’ll improve as the tournament progresses. The scrum held its own and won a few key penalties, the lineout and mauls were defended well by Australia, Canada may need to fine tune their driving maul. It was the defence that won the match in poor conditions and it’s a good start for Canada in their first match since the World Cup.
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team opened its 2026 Pacific Four Series campaign later than expected, as a weather delay pushed kickoff more than an hour past the scheduled start time against Australia.
Both teams battled through wet conditions, but Canada adapted best, securing a 24–0 victory over the Wallaroos at Heart Health Park on Saturday night in Sacramento, California.
First Half
The two sides struggled early, frequently exchanging possession on a waterlogged field. Canada opened the scoring in the 19th minute after earning a penalty on the Australian goal line. Opting for a lineout, they set up a maul before Julia Omokhuale crossed two phases later for a 5–0 lead.
Late in the first half, Canada added a second try following sustained pressure inside the Australian 22-metre. Captain Justine Pelletier made a break after finding a gap around the ruck and was stopped just short of the line, but Pamphinette Buisa collected the ball at the breakdown and powered over. Claire Gallagher converted to give Canada a 12–0 halftime advantage.
Second Half
Canada created several scoring chances in the second half but were hindered by handling errors caused by the heavy rain near the try line, including a knock-on in the 56th minute. After multiple attempts, they extended their lead in the 67th minute. With a penalty advantage, Pelletier moved the ball wide through Taylor Perry to Asia Hogan-Rochester, who finished for a third Canadian try.
Debutant Kiki Idowu added Canada’s final score, the first of her international career, crossing in the 74th minute shortly after entering the match to bring the final score to 24–0.
Scoring Summary: Julia Omokhuale (1T), Pamphinette Buisa (1T), Asia Hogan-Rochester (1T), Kiki Idowu (1T), Claire Gallagher (2C)
ON DEBUT
Six players earned their first caps for Canada’s women’s 15s team on Saturday against Australia. Chloe Daniels, a 2024 Olympic silver medalist with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, and Aurora Bowie, a Stouffville, Ontario native and University of Ottawa alumna, started in the back three.
Named to the match day roster as reserves, Sierra Gillis, Brooke Rempel, Corinne Fréchette, and Idowu all took the field in the second half, each earning their first cap for the Canadian senior women’s team.
A WORD FROM CAPTAIN JUSTINE PELLETIER
“We did our best with the weather,” said Pelletier. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a fancy rugby game and the style of rugby we like to play. Today was all about keeping the ball and getting into the fight. I am pretty proud of the team that we could come up with that win and a lot of new caps for us today, so I am very proud of them.”
“We talked before the game about changing our plan to go more into a kick battle and play more direct. It took us a little time to adjust but the second half was way better, and I think that is where we showed a bit more dominance.”
UP NEXT FOR CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM
Canada vs New Zealand
CPKC Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri
Friday April 17 at 3:15 p.m. PT / 6:15 p.m. ET
Watch live on TSN and TSN+
Canada vs USA
Seat Geek Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
Friday April 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET
Watch live on TSN and TSN+
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS AUSTRALIA
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats / Ontario West (53 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (41 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (69 caps)
4. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Saracens (6 caps)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (21 caps)
6. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish / Bristol Bears (18 caps)
7. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (39 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (40 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (42 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (22 caps)
11. Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – University of Ottawa / Markham Irish / FC Grenoble Amazones (Uncapped)
12. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (19 caps)
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (24 caps)
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC / Sharks (7 caps)
15. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University / Bristol Bears (Uncapped)
FINISHERS
16. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – University of British Columbia / Toronto Scottish – (Uncapped
17. Sierra Gillis (Victoria, BC) – University of Victoria, Westshore (Uncapped)
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) – Brock University / Brantford Harlequins / Ontario West (Uncapped)
19. Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary / Rugby Club Toulon (2 caps)
20. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (40 caps)
21. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia (4 caps)
22. Corinne Frechette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Québec East (Uncapped)
23. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Saracens (41 caps)
Canada Name Roster for Australia Match on Saturday in California
There are some new faces in the women’s XVs team taking on Australia, there are six uncapped players on the squad, two starting in the backs and four in the reserves, including a complete front row of uncapped players. Four of the six uncapped players are well known to BCRN readers, Chloe Daniels has played on the Canada 7s team and in the PWR, Sierra Gillis plays for UVic and Westshore, Kiki Idowu plays for UBC and Canada U20, Brooke Rempel is on the Canada U20 team as well. Aurora Bowie was on the Canada Selects side that travelled to Spain in 2024 but besides that we don’t know much about her, Corinne Frechette was on that 2024 Canada Selects side as well.
The starting front row of Kassil, Tuttosi and Menin were from Canada’s World Cup squad. Other players from the RWC squad include second rows Omokhuale and Royer, loose forwards Senft and Forteza. Pam Buisa was a late injury scratch at the World Cup but she’s back in a starting role for this match. The starting halfbacks Pelletier and Perry and the centres Gallagher and Seumanutafa were all in the RWC squad. The only new players in the starting lineup are the uncapped XVs debutantes Aurora Bowie and Chloe Daniels.
Sophie de Goede, World Rugby Player of the Year in 2025, who is returning from injury and has only logged 20 minutes in PWR since returning, is in the reserves.
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats / Ontario West (53 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (41 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (69 caps)
4. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Saracens (6 caps)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (21 caps)
6. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish / Bristol Bears (18 caps)
7. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (39 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (40 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (42 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (22 caps)
11. Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – University of Ottawa / Markham Irish / FC Grenoble Amazones (Uncapped)
12. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (19 caps)
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (24 caps)
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC / Sharks (7 caps)
15. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University / Bristol Bears (Uncapped)
FINISHERS
16. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – University of British Columbia / Toronto Scottish – (Uncapped)
17. Sierra Gillis (Victoria, BC) – University of Victoria, Westshore (Uncapped)
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) – Brock University / Brantford Harlequins / Ontario West (Uncapped)
19. Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary / Rugby Club Toulon (2 caps)
20. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (40 caps)
21. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia (4 caps)
22. Corinne Frechette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Québec East (Uncapped)
23. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Saracens (41 caps)
from Rugby Canada
April 9, 2026 (Sacramento, California) – For the first time since the Rugby World Cup final last fall, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will take the field this weekend against Australia, kicking off their 2026 Pacific Four Series (PAC4) schedule and the start of a new four-year cycle. The match goes this Saturday, April 11 at 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, California. Canadian rugby fans can watch the game live on TSN5 and TSN+
Canada’s matchday roster, selected by Head Coach Kevin Rouet, features 15 players from last year’s World Cup squad, along with six uncapped players, two of whom are named in the starting fifteen.
“It’s been a short preparation window, but everyone is excited to get back on the pitch and play for Canada again,” said Rouet. “I’ve said it a few times already, but it’s important to recognize that we are at the beginning of a new cycle. We need to focus on giving our young, up-and-coming players opportunities to showcase themselves at the international level. We have a great mix of youth and experience in our roster for Australia, and it should be an exciting match.”
In line to make their debuts for Canada’s Women’s 15s Team this weekend are Chloe Daniels, a 2024 Olympic silver medalist with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, starting at fullback, and Aurora Bowie, from of Stouffville, Ontario and University of Ottawa alum, who will wear number 11 on the wing.
Kiki Idowu, Sierra Gillis, Brooke Rempel, and Corinne Frechette have all been named on the bench and could also make their international debuts. Idowu and Rempel joined the senior women’s squad for PAC4 after competing with Canada’s U21 Women’s Team last month, where the team won all three matches and outscored opponents 165–55.
Captain Alexandra Tessier was unavailable for selection due to injury but is expected to return for Canada’s final two PAC4 Series matches against New Zealand and the United States. Justine Pelletier will serve as captain this weekend against Australia.
The 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year, Sophie de Goede, has been named among the finishers, having just recently returned to action with Saracens in England’s PWR (Professional Women’s Rugby) on March 28 after an extended injury layoff.
With the first leg of the 2026 SVNS World Championship set to begin next weekend in Hong Kong, capped 15s players Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps, Fancy Bermudez, Sabrina Poulin, and Caroline Crossley will represent Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, highlighting Rugby Canada’s “One Squad” philosophy.
WHERE TO WATCH
Coverage of Canada’s first Pacific Four Series match against Australia will be available on TSN5 and TSN+ starting at 7:00pm PST / 10:00pm EST. Details regarding Canada’s final two games will be made available shortly.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS AUSTRALIA
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats / Ontario West (53 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (41 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (69 caps)
4. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Saracens (6 caps)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (21 caps)
6. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish / Bristol Bears (18 caps)
7. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (39 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (40 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (42 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (22 caps)
11. Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – University of Ottawa / Markham Irish / FC Grenoble Amazones (Uncapped)
12. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (19 caps)
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (24 caps)
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC / Sharks (7 caps)
15. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University / Bristol Bears (Uncapped)
FINISHERS
16. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – University of British Columbia / Toronto Scottish – (Uncapped)
17. Sierra Gillis (Victoria, BC) – University of Victoria, Westshore (Uncapped)
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) – Brock University / Brantford Harlequins / Ontario West (Uncapped)
19. Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary / Rugby Club Toulon (2 caps)
20. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (40 caps)
21. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia (4 caps)
22. Corinne Frechette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval / Québec East (Uncapped)
23. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Saracens (41 caps)
PACIFIC FOUR SERIES SCHEDULE
Canada vs Australia
Heart Health Park – Sacramento, California
Saturday April 11 at 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET
Canada vs New Zealand
CPKC Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri
Friday April 17 at 3:15 p.m. PT / 6:15 p.m. ET
Canada vs USA
Seat Geek Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
Friday April 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET