'I really want to challenge myself': Sophie de Goede outlines future ambitions

Sophie de Goede believes that Canada’s back-to-back wins against England’s Red Roses marked a significant step forward for the North Americans.

In recent years, Canada have established themselves as one of the leading nations in women’s Test rugby. However, consistently beating fellow top-four sides has proved a more difficult challenge.

Perhaps the best example of this was at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Kévin Rouet’s side stunned the Black Ferns in the semi-final, before being felled by England 33-13 a week later at Allianz Stadium in the final.

So, to beat the Red Roses on consecutive weekends in Toronto and Ottawa in their home leg of WXV Global Series, was significant for Canada.

“After Toronto, the feeling was excitement, happiness and joy,” De Goede told RugbyPass.

“It was the whole spectacle of everything, and the fact that we were able to get a result. After Ottawa, it was more relief and exhaustion.”

“There was a lot of pressure on us going into the second game,” she continued, “historically over the last year we haven’t played well in back-to-back big games.

“There was a lot riding on that week [in Ottawa] and there was a lot of work we had to do as a leadership group to make sure everyone was in the right headspace and that the team responded in the right way.”

That renewed confidence could prove invaluable for Canada in the long term. Having come so close to claiming the Women’s Rugby World Cup title just over a year ago, they have made an excellent start to the new World Cup cycle.

When the 2027 Pacific Four Series – in which they contend with the Black Ferns, Wallaroos and USA Women’s Eagles – comes around it will have been six months since Canada last played a game.

“We’ve finally got the result we’ve been chasing for a while now, and I think that breeds confidence within the group,” De Goede said.

“You leave with a good taste in your mouth. Everyone’s feeling a lot of confidence. Everyone’s in good situations before we get to PAC4. We’ll be looking to get to PAC4 and reclaim the title.

“We’ll also be looking to get a good win against New Zealand to get the year [2027] going, and then Australia and the US as well.”

Pacific Four Series ambition is not all that De Goede has in mind. Last week, rugby’s most-followed player on social media, Ilona Maher, announced that she was returning to the sevens field.

With the start of the new HSBC SVNS Series season coming at the end of November and Olympic qualification on the cards at the conclusion of this campaign, the road to LA28 is gathering pace.

In recent years, Canada’s ‘One Squad’ mentality has seen a number of players switch between seven-a-side and 15-a-side rugby regularly.

Saracens teammate Olivia Apps has seen her game thrive, as has Alysha Corrigan.

Ahead of the new season, cross-code stars Pamphinette Buisa, Chloe Daniels and Florence Symonds have all signed for JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby club, Loughborough Lightning.

It was in the build-up to the Olympic Games in Paris just over two years ago that De Goede tore her ACL. That injury prevented the 27-year-old from being a part of the team that went on to claim a silver medal in 2024.

“I would really like to serve Canadian rugby in both codes – I think I can do it,” De Goede said.

“On a personal level, I really want to be able to go to an Olympics. I was pretty devastated last time.

“I haven’t had an opportunity to play sevens since I got injured. We’ll see. I think there will be some sevens on the cards.

“Whether I’m any good at it anymore, who knows. It would definitely be a learning curve again.”

Whatever the case, before any potential return to the sevens field, De Goede must first a return to Saracens. Her final act with the North London club last season was to help the side end their four-year wait for an English league title.

Saracens begin their new season on Sunday 22 November against Leicester Tigers at StoneX Stadium, with the lock aiming to retain their title on the front foot.

“We want to go out there and assert ourselves on the game,” De Goede said. “That’s very much the perspective we’ll have. We want to defend the title and go back-to-back.

“I think we’ll be really attacking in the way we approach it. We don’t just want to sit back and try to hold out throughout the season.”