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Tessier captains Canada as 2025 World Cup squad announced
By Lucy Lomax
Canada has announced their squad for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, kicking off next month in England.
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The side ranked second in the world has selected 32 players, 21 of which represented Canada at the 2021 World Cup including veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant and Karen Paquin who will represent Canada at the tournament for a fourth time.
Head Coach Kevin Rouet has selected 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee, Alexandra Tessier as captain after a long injury lay-off for Sophie de Goede who made her long-awaited return to the Canadian lineup earlier this month against South Africa, her first time back on the field in over a year following a significant knee injury.
Six 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 and Taylor Perry.
11 players will be making their World Cup debuts including Rachel Smith, Taylor McKnight, Claire Gallagher, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Laetitia Royer and Maya Montiel.
Rouet said: “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.
“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.”
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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 23rd August.
Canada 2025 Rugby World Cup Squad:
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 / Gloucester-Hartpury
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
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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