Emily Tuttosi: 'I couldn’t in my wildest dreams, ever imagine being part of a day like that'

This weekend, the Pacific Four Series kicks off, and Canada begin their campaign against Australia. The four-team tournament features Australia, Canada, defending champions New Zealand and USA with matches taking place in two continents.

Five matches will be played on US soil across Sacramento, Kansas City and Chicago before the last match takes place in Australia.

Emily Tuttosi is a commanding presence in Canadian rugby, known for her power, precision, and relentless drive. As a dynamic hooker, she combines physical dominance with technical excellence, delivering under pressure on the international stage.

More than just a key player, Tuttosi represents the rising strength and ambition of modern Canadian rugby – setting the standard every time she takes the field.

The front row who started the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final against England agrees her country are drawing on lessons from the Women’s Rugby World Cup while refocusing on their identity ahead of the Pacific Four Series.

“I think the prep for us is kind of the same,” the 30-year-old said. “We’re a group of players playing around the world right now and we know we have to go back to our basics, get everyone on the same page.

“We probably are playing some different styles of rugby at our club so we need to come back and redefine the Canadian way and revamp the Canadian way

“I think the thing from the World Cup is we know where we want to be so that could be a long-term goal but this tournament, we have to go at it game by game and see what the opposition is going to give us.”

Facing Australia this weekend, Canada will need to handle their physical forwards, quick ball at the breakdown, and dangerous pace out wide, with the Wallaroos capable of punishing any defensive lapses.

“Australia are a team that just go and go and don’t give up until the final whistle,” she said. “They also have some big physical threats in there in the pack so we have to make sure we front up physically.

“I think lastly in their backline, we know they can swing in and out wide just as much as they punch up the middle so we have to make sure we’re disciplined on defence and making sure we’re working as 15 because if you work as individuals against a team that likes that punch up, that’s when you get on the back foot.”

An Exeter Chiefs mainstay since her Devon arrival in 2020, Tuttosi has been playing her rugby in England since before the pandemic and is thriving in Premiership Women’s Rugby as Chiefs push for a play-off spot.

The hooker firmly believes playing in the English league has been crucial to her career.

“I think the biggest thing that’s highlighted is, in Canada we try and pocket stuff geographically so we can have some competition just because our country is so big, whereas in England, you can have all the players condensed and be playing in one league and it’s very obvious that you can play a lot more rugby throughout the year,” Tuttosi said.

“Since that first Olympics [in 2016] and since the World Cups I’ve been involved in, I’ve seen it grow in both places and whilst I’m seeing it grow from at a distance in Canada, I’m excited for whenever my rugby days end, I know that it’s just going to keep growing. That makes me excited to be a part of it now and excited to look forward to in the future.”

Tuttosi has expressed an interest to coach when she finishes playing. However, for the time being her focus is on the Pacific Four opener this weekend, highlighting how the support for the game since the Women’s Rugby World Cup has helped fuel the squad’s motivation heading into the Series.

“One of the biggest statements from the World Cup was just how much people showed up when I walked in on the day of the final and the stairs were rammed by people and the whole walkway was people cheering.

“You couldn’t have fitted anybody else there in a full Allianz Stadium. We always fight to be in these spaces. That day was just a statement of everyone saying we see you, we hear you, which was special.

“On a more personal level, the World Cup taught us that as a nation, we can do it. We are right there. I have goosebumps just talking about it now. Tears come to my eyes. I couldn’t in my wildest dreams, ever imagine being part of a day like that.

“Obviously, we came out the wrong side of a final, but we knew what we had been building for years and I think we can be proud of where we got to. However, I know that there’s still more to come in the next cycle.”