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PWR

Lightning boss Smith picks up Pacific Four Series role

GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 1: Loughborough Lightning's Head Coach Nathan Smith during the Premiership Women's Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby-Hartpury Women v Loughborough Lightning at Kingsholm Stadium on February 1, 2026 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Loughborough Lightning have confirmed that head coach Nathan Smith will join Canada as a guest coach for the 2026 Pacific Four Series.

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The third-year Premiership Women’s Rugby boss has joined Kévin Rouet’s squad for the three-match tournament.

Canada’s campaign starts this weekend against Australia at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, California, on Saturday afternoon.

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In the second and third rounds, Canada will play the Black Ferns in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jack Hanratty’s USA Women’s Eagles in Chicago, Illinois.

It will be the first time that the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup silver medallists have played a game since their 33-13 loss to England’s Red Roses at Allianz Stadium.

For the tournament their head coach, Rouet, has included nine uncapped players in his squad: Sierra Gillis, Kiki Idowu, Lizzie Gibson, Corinne Fréchette, Maggie MacKinnon, Chloe Daniels and Aurora Bowie.

Exeter ChiefsAlex Tessier will continue to captain the side. There is also a place for Sophie de Goede, who has played just two matches for Saracens in PWR this season, and their top try scorer at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Asia Hogan-Rochester, who has been turning out for Sale Sharks.

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Canada have strong recent history in the Pacific Four Series. In 2021 and 2024 the team were winners of the competition. Last year the side were runners-up to the Black Ferns on points difference.

Pacific Four Series

 Watch the Pacific Four Series live on RugbyPass TV this month as USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all battle it out! 

*available in all countries outside of the participating teams. 

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