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Asia Hogan-Rochester: From Olympic silver to Rugby World Cup stardom
By Finn Morton reporting from Bristol
Two videos of Asia Hogan-Rochester’s incredible try against Wales last month have been viewed by at least 350,000 people on the official Rugby World Cup TikTok page. That sensational break down the left edge marked a special occasion for the code-hopper, who is also an Olympian.
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That was Hogan-Rochester’s debut at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, 13 months to the day since Canada won a silver medal for rugby sevens at the Paris Olympic Games. Hogan-Rochester was part of that team, which achieved Canada’s best-ever Olympic result.
Canada clawed their way back from a 12-nil deficit to shock one of the gold medal favourites Australia in the semi-finals. While they were beaten in the final by New Zealand, the Canadians still had plenty of reasons to celebrate at Stade de France.
@rugbyworldcup And with that, Canada have secured a bonus point in the first half 👏 #RWC2025 #CANvWAL ? sonido original – YIPSXML
More than one year later, there are six members of that famous silver-medal-winning sevens side in Canada’s squad for the Rugby World Cup. Olivia Apps, Caroline Crosley, Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds and Taylor Perry are the other five.
Canada have spoken proudly in the past about the nation’s ‘One Squad’ approach to sevens and 15s, with athletes like Hogan-Rochester able to make what the winger described as a “quite seamless” move between rugby’s codes.
“On an individual note, like for me, I just think back to myself as a kid and I’m quite proud of myself and I’m just so lucky that I get to do this with some of my best friends and amazing teammates,” Hogan-Rochester told reporters.
“As a winger, it’s so exciting to be able to go from sevens and 15s and be empowered to play with so much creativity.
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“I feel like playing on this team, playing for Canada whether it’s sevens or 15s, just wearing a Canadian jersey, it’s every winger’s dream to be honest. You’re just empowered to be exactly who you are on pitch.”
This is Hogan-Rochester’s first Rugby World Cup, with the 26-year-old starting against Wales at Salford Community Stadium late last month. Hogan-Rochester scored that viral solo try before featuring in the run-on side yet again, playing 80 minutes against Scotland.
Canada have genuine ambitions of winning the showpiece event for what would be the first time ever, coming into the tournament ranked second in the world. They are unbeaten so far in 2025, which includes a draw with New Zealand in Christchurch during the Pacific Four Series.
They started their World Cup campaign with a dominant 65-7 win over Fiji, with Julia Schell running in a headline-grabbing six tries. Canada followed that with a 42-0 triumph over the Welsh, and a 21-point victory against Scotland at Exeter’s Sandy Park.
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Canada will take on Australia for a spot in the quarter-finals, about four months on from their last meeting during Pac Four, with the visitors running away with a comfortable win at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
“We definitely came into this tournament with the goal of winning the World Cup,” Hogan-Rochester said.
“With our performances and the scorelines, we’re quite pleased with them, but then at the same time it is knockout rugby this weekend. We know that Australia is going to come with that same mindset.
“With that being said, I’m also so confident in the team to be able to respond to that. It’s a fresh slate, it’s kind of like week one of the tournament, [Gabrielle] Senft was saying that to me today.
“We’re really confident as a collective to keep being able to respond to each challenge that each team gives us each weekend.”
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