Lizzie Gibson vividly recalls her location during the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, which Canada participated in. It was in a pub in Kingston, Ontario, alongside her teammates from Queen’s University and their families.
On that day, the Gaels triumphed over the Western Mustangs with a score of 80-3 at Nixon Field. Gibson contributed 20 points to the team’s success.
Fast forward seven months, Gibson made her Test debut for Canada confronting the Black Ferns during the Pacific Four Series, following her time in New Zealand, where she studied at the University of Otago, played for the Alhambra Broncos, and trained with the Otago Spirit who compete in the Farah Palmer Cup.
In her first two games, against New Zealand and the USA Women’s Eagles, she spent just 31 minutes on the field. However, by the time September arrived with the WXV Global Series, Gibson had secured a starting position. She has scored four tries this autumn and played 54 minutes in a match against the Red Roses, aiding Canada in breaking the world champions’ 41-match unbeaten streak in Toronto.
“I’ve essentially dreamed of joining this team since I took up rugby,” Gibson shared with RugbyPass. “After a couple of years, it dawned on me that it could realistically be an achievable goal.
“I was incredibly athletic as a child. I participated in hockey and soccer my entire life. In high school, the rule was only one sport per season, so I ended up playing three sports in total. I made sure to keep every season filled with activities. By the end of Grade 12, I was involved in five sports – mornings were for rowing, evenings for rugby, plus sevens, flag football, and hockey.
“In January, I opted to relocate to New Zealand for a school exchange program, but my aim was also to play rugby and experience something new. I couldn’t compete in university rugby [having already played U Sports for five years], and I wanted to play consistently and explore different opportunities.
“It was somewhat daunting since I wasn’t partaking in provincial rugby [back in Canada], which I knew Kévin [Rouet, Canada head coach] would focus on for selections. I understood I needed a unique experience for my growth as a player.
“That move proved to be immensely beneficial. I then received a call in March regarding selection for the Pacific Four [Series]. I was over the moon. It completely took me by surprise. My girlfriend was with me in New Zealand when I got the news, and we both ended up emotional at the computer. I then called my mother, and she was in tears.”
At Queen’s, Gibson had already made a name for herself as a remarkable talent. Throughout her five years with the Gaels, she excelled as an exceptional player and set the record for points scored in U Sports competition, accumulating 571 points.
She also leads the league in conversions, with 179. Yes, Canada has yet another forward who can kick goals. Gibson even possesses one of Sophie de Goede’s custom kicking tees, gifted by the 2025 World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year.
Adjusting to the reality of having teammates like De Goede and Laetitia Royer alongside her in the Canadian squad still feels surreal for Gibson. Her performance has also led her to claim a starting position over seasoned players such as Fabiola Forteza and Pamphinette Buisa.
“The year 2026 has felt like a dream come true,” Gibson stated. “If someone had told me last year that I would be here with six caps and starting every match in WXV, I would have struggled to believe it. My circumstances were entirely different.
“I was in university, spending all my time observing this team during the World Cup and shouting at my TV. This group is incredibly unique, and I believe everyone will recognize that in the Crave documentary [ALL HEART: A RUGBY STORY]. They have a remarkable bond. That connection is evident through the screen when you see them play.
“Being a part of this is surreal – having the chance to play alongside this team and fulfill my dreams is truly incredible. But just being included in this group feels like a remarkable occurrence in itself. I’ve simply never experienced being on a team that offers this kind of support.”
Gibson has been named to start her fifth consecutive match in the WXV Global Series as Canada gets ready to host the Red Roses at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.
The home team aims to defeat England for the second consecutive time, marking the first time since the 2013 Nations Cup in Colorado. Head coach Kévin Rouet has made various alterations to his lineup, including Shoshanah Seumanutafa stepping in at inside centre just a week after her decisive performance against England.
Taylor Perry is shifting back to fly-half, while Gabrielle Senft joins Gibson and Julia Omokhuale in the back row. The fixture on Friday will conclude the best-of-three series between the two teams, who had drawn in September before Canada’s latest victory.
John Mitchell’s England has also implemented several adjustments to their starting XV. Ellie Kildunne has moved to the bench, with Emma Sing taking over her position, while Claudia Moloney-MacDonald is replaced by Mia Venner in the squad. Sadia Kabeya will start in the back row, joining Abi Burton and Maddie Feaunati.
England has another WXV Global Series match against the USA planned for the following week. For Canada, however, this will wrap up their 2026 season. One final home match gives the North Americans a chance to end the year positively as they prepare for the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup cycle.
This matchup will also provide Gibson with another chance to demonstrate her capabilities on the international scene. Whether through her ball-carrying or defensive skills, she has made a significant impact in Test rugby this year and has experienced tremendous growth along the way.
“I didn’t even make the roster for the Australia match at Pacific Four,” Gibson remarked. “To transition from that to my current position is astonishing; I simply wasn’t playing my best rugby back then. I think part of it was my inexperience in the environment. You desire to excel. Your mind aims to accomplish things that your body sometimes isn’t prepared for.
“Regardless of whether I am coming off the bench or starting, it holds great significance. It means a lot to me that the coach has confidence in me, as does the team, to fulfill my role. My responsibilities have changed as I’ve received more playing time and gained confidence in my ability to meet the needs of the team and the coach.”
