Unchanged Canada side named for Rugby World Cup Final against England

Canada coach Kevin Rouet has named a familiar lineup for this weekend’s 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final, with an unchanged side set to take on tournament hosts England in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

After defeating Australia 46-5 at Bristol’s Ashton Gate earlier this month, Rouet showed faith in that same 23 by retaining those players for the semi-final. Canada blitzed defending champions New Zealand during the first half, on their way to a 34-19 win.

Rouet has selected a starting side with more than 545 Test caps between them, including highly experienced prop DaLeaka Menin at tighthead. Menin joins 37-Test loosehead McKinley Hunt and 40-Test hooker Emily Tuttosi up front.

Canada captain Alex Tessier on being the dark horse in RWC

Canada captain Alex Tessier on being the dark horse in RWC

Sophie de Goede is one of three nominees for World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC, along with New Zealand’s Jorja Miller and England’s Megan Jones. De Goede will pack down alongside Courtney O’Donnell in the second row.

Caroline Crossley starts at blindside flanker, with Karen Paquin starting at openside, eight days on from her 50^th Canada appearance. Fabiola Forteza rounds out the staring forward pack as the number eight.

Justine Pelletier received Player of the Match honours against New Zealand, and the scrum-half will link up with Taylor Perry yet again in the halves. Alex Tessier will combine with HSBC SVNS Series star Florence Symonds in the midfield.

Asia Hogan-Rochester starts on the left wing after they scored an early try against the Black Ferns last week. Alysha Corrigan will wear the No. 14 jersey once again, with Julia Schell lining up at fullback.

“The focus remains on ourselves this week, nothing changes in how we prepare from the last game,” said Rouet.

“Of course, we are happy to have made it to the World Cup finals but there is still a job to be done, and I believe in all the players and staff we have here that we will be ready to go for Saturday.

“Every week the coaches are faced with such a hard decision as we believe that all 32 players we have in the squad are amazing rugby players and have a positive impact on the game,” he added.

“We decided to be consistent after a performance we were really happy with against New Zealand, but it will take all the players we have with us to help us win a World Cup.”

Canada lost to England 21-12 in their most recent meeting last year, having trailed by just five points to start the second half.

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final will kick off at 4:00 pm local time on Saturday.

Canada team for 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final

1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens (37 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (40 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (68 caps)
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (40 caps)
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby (52 caps)
6. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers (12 caps)
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec (50 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (40 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec?/ Stade Bordelais (42 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs (22 caps)
11. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (7 caps)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs (65 caps)
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia (17 caps)
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens (25 caps)
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders (31 caps)

Replacements

16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC (38 caps)
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats (52 caps)
18. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC (65 caps)
19. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (83 caps)
20. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (21 caps)
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (39 caps)
22. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC (24 caps)
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (24 caps)