women
international women
Sophie de Goede is back in Canada’s starting XV for the women’s team Rugby World Cup Replay in 2025 with the English Red Roses.
It will be the first time the two teams meet since the final at the Allianz Stadium, in which England won 33-13 in front of a world record crowd of 81,885.
Last week, De Goede joined in her team’s 64-26 victory Scotland of the replacements, as the North Americans’ WXV Global Series campaign began on a high note. She will captain Canada for the 25th time in his career.
With the return of the world’s reigning under-15s player, De Goede, Rachel Smith moves to the back row to join Julia Omokhuale and Lizzie Gibson.
The inclusion of Asia Hogan-Rochester is the only change to the back three. In last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in the final, Hogan-Rochester scored both of Canada’s tries. The wing joins debutants Charity Williams and Claire Gallagher. Fancy Bermudez is completely out of the team.
Following her red card against Scotland and subsequent two-match ban, Brittney Kassil has been replaced by Mikiela Nelson as the starting loosehead prop. Sophie McDonald kept her place on the bench after making her Test debut a week ago.
Kévin Rouet, Canada’s head coach, said: “It’s always an exciting challenge to go against England. That’s why you train and play, to test yourself against the best.”
“Playing England in England is never easy, but this is the first of three opportunities we have to play them, the next two will be in Canada, so this week is another step on our way to test ourselves and make sure we are ready to perform in Canada in front of our fans.
Canada will host the Red Roses in two matches in October as part of the WXV Global Series. They will play games in Toronto and Ottawa as part of The Rugby Rematch Tour, and ticket sales for the clash on Friday October 16 indicate that a new presence will be set up for the stand-alone women’s rugby match in North America.
2026 WXV Global Series | Canada on match day against England
15. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Ealing Trailfinders / Aurora Barbarians (23 games)
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (12 appearances)
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (19 games)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Exeter Chiefs / Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (69 games)
11. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) – Markham Irish (1 game)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (27 games)
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Saracens / Lindsay RFC (26 appearances)
1. Mikiela Nelson (Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC (12 appearances)
2. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds / Toronto Scottish (4 games)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulkan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs / Calgary Hornets (73 games)
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Saracens / Castaway Wanderers (45 games)
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University (26 games)
6. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (8 appearances)
7. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Saracens / Calgary Irish Rugby Club (10 appearances)
8. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Queen’s University / Oakville Crusaders (3 appearances)
Substitutions
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC (39 games)
17. Sophie McDonald (Ottawa, ON) – Eastern Ontario / University of Ottawa / Ottawa Rugby Club (1 game)
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) – Loughborough Lightning / Ontario West / Brantford Harlequins (3 games)
19. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Quebec Rugby Club
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Loughborough Lightning / Ottawa Irish (22 games)
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Stade Bordelais / Castaway Wanderers (44 appearances)
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Quebec Rugby Club (47 appearances)
23. Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – UBC Thunderbirds / Capilano RFC (1 cap)
