women
international women
Canada prop Brittany Kassil has been suspended for three matches following her red card against Scotland in her team WXV Global Series opener.
The ban will be reduced to two games following the successful completion of World Rugby’s Intervention Programme.
As things stand, the 35-year-old loosehead bum will miss this weekend’s women’s replay Rugby World Cup 2025 final against England, clash next week France in La Rochelle and her team’s first home test in October, vs England at BMO Field in Toronto.
Kassil was shown a red card for an offense contrary to Law 9.13, dangerous table play, after an upgrade by the foul play official.
Despite the red card, Canada ran out 64-26 winners against Scotland in their first WXV Global Series match in September. Canada scored 10 tries at Hive Stadium and Olivia Apps was named the Mitsubishi Electric Player of the Week for her exploits in the win.
For this weekend’s clash with the Red Roses in Exeter, Canada head coach Kévin Rouet has made several changes to his starting XV.
This includes the return of reigning World Rugby Under-15 Player of the Year, Sophie de Goede, to the squad following her supporting role last weekend in the Scottish capital.
Mikiela Nelson was named to start at loosehead prop in Kassil’s absence. Sophie McDonald, who made her debut from the bench last week, is in the reserve among the substitutes.
Kassil accepted that a foul had been committed and that a red card was warranted after a head-butt with a Scotland player. The mitigation reduced the usual six-game ban for head contact to three games.
The 35-year-old’s case was heard on Monday 14 September by the Independent Offenses Review Commission.
Fiji men’s player Isoa Nasilasila has been banned for one match for the red card he received against Canada last weekend at the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 match against Canada.
