Pacific Four Series: Can Canada pick up where they left off?

It is hard to believe that almost seven months have passed since Canada saw their Women’s Rugby World Cup dreams dashed by England’s Red Roses at Allianz Stadium.

After 80 minutes in West London a pair of Asia Hogan-Rochester tries were submerged by an Alex Matthews brace, as well as efforts from Ellie Kildunne, Amy Cokayne and Abbie Ward.

At full-time the heartache of every player donning red was clear to see. Their eyes were filled with tears on the turf. A brief moment of joy as Sophie de Goede claimed World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year was the only respite to the sadness.

In his post-match press conference Kévin Rouet, Canada’s head coach, called for the nation to not forget his squad. Then everyone went their separate ways.

A portion of the squad went to Saracens – as did Rouet as an assistant – some are dotted at other Premiership Women’s Rugby outposts. Others are in France. A few are swapping their time between the 15-a-side game and rugby sevens. Several seasoned campaigners retired.

Soon enough you wondered what was next for this Canada team. After their 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup final loss to England, the North Americans were out of contention after the group stage in 2017. It took 11 years for the nation to get another top two finish. Another extended period in the international middleground cannot happen again.

This Saturday in Sacramento, California, the Canadians will play their first Test since the Women’s Rugby World Cup final.

The Pacific Four Series opener against Australia’s Wallaroos follows hot on the heels of the tournament opener between the USA Women’s Eagles and the New Zealand Black Ferns on the same day at the same venue.

It is an instant opportunity for Canada to capitalise on all of their recent success. And get a piece of silverware for the trophy cabinet all in one fell swoop.

Rouet sits across from RugbyPass on a video call. The Frenchman is, familiarly, donning a Rugby Canada baseball cap and his thick-brimmed glasses.

With a classically Gallic shrug the 39-year-old explained that there is no great demand being placed on his squad as the road to 2029 begins to be paved.

“It’s a new cycle, with no pressure,” Rouet said. “We also run a programme at the same time – Hong Kong Sevens and PAC4 are at the same time. The idea was to try and balance it.

“We haven’t seen each other fully as a group since the World Cup. I saw every player in their environment. I did a UK camp for the UK players. I went to BC. I know a lot of girls are excited. It is more excitement. I think we’re going to be relaxed.”

That ‘no pressure’ element is also there for Sophie de Goede. Last year the 26-year-old returned from an ACL injury and was Canada’s leading light as the team made it to the final.

Her efforts won her the Player of the Year gong. Since then her rugby has been contained to just 99 minutes.

Fixture

Pacific Four Series

Canada Women

19:00

11 Apr 26

Australia Women

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The majority of those came in Round 1 of the PWR season as Saracens were battered by Gloucester Hartpury. The most recent against Sale Sharks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 54-0 win. Timing is everything.

“No pressure on Sophie,” Rouet said. “I have Sophie coming back from injury, that’s how I see that. That was the same at the World Cup. Sophie was our captain coming back from a long-term injury.

“I said to Sophie, less leadership for you [as Alex Tessier was handed the captaincy], focus on your performance. The mindset will be a little bit similar for this tour. She’s always right on time. She is available to play for Canada. As Canada coach, I have no complaints. As a Saracens coach, it’s different.”

As Rouet pointed out, Canada are effectively fighting on two fronts. All season the nation has seen its top talents flit between PWR and HSBC SVNS Series rugby.

Olivia Apps, Fancy Bermudez, Alysha Corrigan and Sabrina Poulin will instead be at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the first of three HSBC SVNS World Championship events.

In Rouet’s Pacific Four Series squad Pamphinette Buisa, Gabrielle Senft, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Chloe Daniels, Claire Gallagher, Shoshanah Seumanutafa and Taylor Perry have all played top level rugby sevens this season.

If it were not for an ACL injury, Canada Women’s Sevens captain Carissa Norsten would have been in Southern California with the 15-a-side setup instead of the first World Championship stage.

The point of all this is a reminder that Test rugby is not Canada’s be-all and end-all. That is why they adopted the ‘One Squad’ mentality. To thrive across the board.

There are places for Kiki Idowu and Aurora Bowie, both of whom impressed for Canada U21 on their recent tour of England and Ireland. Idowu in particular caught the eye when scoring a hat-trick against England U21 in a behind-closed-doors game at Bisham Abbey.

There will also be potential Test debuts for Sierra Gillis, Lizzie Gibson, Corinne Fréchette, Maggie MacKinnon and Chloe Daniels across the next three weekends.

When it comes to Canada’s opponents in the Pacific Four Series, Rouet is the only remaining team boss from the 2025 edition of the tournament.

In the wake of their disappointing Women’s Rugby World Cup campaigns the Wallaroos, Black Ferns and USA waved goodbye to Jo Yapp, Allan Bunting and Sione Fukofuka.

In their place are Sam Needs [interim head coach for the Wallaroos], Whitney Hansen and Jack Hanratty. It is an entirely new look.

But does Rouet feel any pressure at being the only remaining head coach from this time 12 months ago?

“Not pressure,” he mused. “The only thing I see is, as a staff we need to be brave to bring new kids. It’s a four year cycle. We have already qualified for the World Cup. Without also degrading the project.

“You have to find the right balance because you want to stay number two in the world. As soon as you lose one game you go [down] fast with the rankings. It’s finding a balance. We’ll see if we find it at PAC4.”

If anything there is a bit of envy on Rouet’s part. Particularly when it comes to this weekend’s opponents, Australia, who in the absence of Super Rugby Women’s until June have spent plenty of time together.

By contrast Canada are more battle-hardened as players have taken part in domestic seasons across the globe or recent age grade tours. Although some of the same can be said for the Eagles, and the Black Ferns’ sevens and PWR contingents.

“Australia have been together for a long time,” Rouet said. “Collectively they are going to be very well prepared. The luxury we have, I will say, is that we spent a lot of time during the World Cup together.

“The past will help us to be efficient. We will have very, very sharp preparation to play Australia. Compared to Australia, who already played Fiji when we were not together.

“The success that I feel like this year, compared to usual, on my squad 14 are from the UK, four from France and the rest are from Canada. Even in Canada we have been able to play rugby in February and April. Everyone who has been selected has had some rugby in the leadup.

“It’s a success in some aspects. I would have preferred to have more access to my players for the last three weeks as Australia have.”

In many ways Canada have nothing to prove. They are unbeaten against the Black Ferns in their past three meetings [two wins and a draw]. Their last loss against the USA was in 2019. They have never lost to the Wallaroos.

So, why not take it easy and take the pressure off? Could be fun.