The Canadian national team’s head coach, Kevin Rouet, has revealed an unchanged lineup for their squad’s upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final match against New Zealand on Friday.
This signifies that 38-year-old flanker Karen Paquin, celebrated for achieving a noteworthy try during the 46-5 quarter-final victory over Australia, is set to achieve her 50th international appearance in the back row.
Asia Hogan-Rochester, Alysha Corrigan (with two tries), Sophie de Goede, McKinley Hunt, and Fabiola Forteza also contributed to the try-scoring spree as the Canadian team decisively overcame the Wallaroos at Ashton Gate last Saturday.
The Canadian squad is preparing to head back to Bristol this Friday, carrying a strong sense of self-assurance, having secured victories in all four of their previous World Cup games with a total score of 193-31.
The Black Ferns are anticipated to present the most demanding challenge in England thus far; nonetheless, the Canadian team holds a favorable recent history when facing their approaching semi-final competitors.
Canada achieved a landmark victory against the Black Ferns in New Zealand during the preceding year, securing the Pacific Four Series 2024 title, and their most recent encounter concluded in an exciting 27-27 draw.
“We have demonstrated during the course of the past couple of years that we stand as one of the foremost teams across the globe, and our most recent pair of results against New Zealand serve to reinforce that notion,” Rouet affirmed.
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“We possess every justification to hold the belief that we are capable of triumphing in this game. On Friday, we shall embark on another stride toward the ultimate aspiration that we have been diligently constructing over our initial quartet of games and the span of the preceding three years. While the week dedicated to preparation may be brief, the team is committed to being thoroughly prepared.”
Canadian Team Set to Compete Against New Zealand:
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens (36 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (39 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (67 caps)
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (39 caps)
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby (51 caps)
6. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers (11 caps)
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec (49 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (39 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (41 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs (21 caps)
11. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (6 caps)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs (64 caps)
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia (16 caps)
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens (24 caps)
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders (30 caps)
Substitutes:
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC (37 caps)
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats (51 caps)
18. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC (64 caps)
19. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (82 caps)
20. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (20 caps)
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (38 caps)
22. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC (23 caps)
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (23 caps)
