Ontarians make up more than half of Sr Women's November roster

November 08, 2017

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With files from Rugby Canada Communications; Photographed: Nadia Popov, Aurora Barbarians

LANGFORD, BC – Canada’s women’s interim head coach Sandro Fiorino has announced his travelling roster for this month’s three-match Old Wealth Mutual Series against England.

The roster includes seven members – Emily Belchos, Tyson Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant, Brittany Kassil, Brianna Miller, Cindy Nelles and Laura Russell – of Canada 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup Team that finished 5th in Ireland in August.]

“This tour marks the beginning of a new cycle for our women’s program and will give many young players their first international test match experience against the world no. 2 ranked team,” said Fiorino.

Along with the seven WRWC veterans, Fiorino’s roster includes four players with previous caps on Canada’s Women’s Team, including: Fabiola Forteza, Anais Holly, Jess Neilson and Emma Taylor.

“I am excited for the team that we are taking to England and for the potential 16 new caps for Canada’s Women’s Team. These players have progressed through our national age-grade program, Canadian Rugby Championship and, most recently, the USports Canada National Championsips in Lethbridge, AB to receive selection for Canada,” added Fiorino.

Canada will depart for London on November 13th, arriving on Tuesday the 14th with only three days before their first game on the 17th.

“With limited preparation time, along with a large number of current international and World Cup stars unavailable for selection due to personal and school commitments, our staff and player goals are to put in maximum effort each day and game, while progressing as a team,” added Fiorino. 

Fiorino will be accompanied by Canada Under-20 Women’s Coach Jen Boyd as Assistant Coach, along with Under-18 Forwards Coach Duncan McNaughton as

Scrum/Forwards Coach. Boyd and McNaughton have both seen successes recently with the Ottawa Gee-Gees winning the National Title this past weekend and Canada’s U18 and U20 Teams winning their respective CAN-AM Series’ in Ottawa this August. 

Having featured on the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series for Canada in recent years, Paige Farries, Emma Jada and 2015 Pan-American Games gold-medal winner Nadia Popov will also bring international experience to the roster.

The first game to be played at Allianz Park on Friday 17 November, kick off 19:30, live stream via Englandrugby.com and England Rugby Facebook.

The two sides will next meet in a midweek fixture at The Stoop on Tuesday 21 November, kick off 19:45, before playing in the series finale at Twickenham Stadium, kick off at 17:40 (live Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Mix) with free entry after the men’s game against Samoa.

England and Canada have faced off a total of 25 times, with Canada winning four. The two sides most recently met in Christchurch, New Zealand this year during the International women’s Rugby Series in June, with Canada narrowly losing 27-20.

Tickets for the England Women Old Mutual Wealth series will be available via EnglandRugby.com/tickets from 9am on Friday 29th September. 

Canada’s Women’s Roster for November tour:

  1. Sam Alli, Barrhaven Scottish (Caledon, ON)
  2. Emily Barber, Aurora Barbarians (Toronto, ON)
  3. Emily Belchos, Westshore RFC (Innisfil, ON)
  4. Dria Bennett, Ottawa Irish (Ottawa, ON)
  5. Tyson Beukeboom, Aurora Barbarians / Cowichan RFC (Uxbridge, ON)
  6. Olivia De Merchant, Woodstock Wildmen (Mapledale, NB)
  7. Alexandria Ellis, Barrhaven Scottish (Ottawa, ON)
  8. Paige Farries, Westshore RFC (Red Deer, AB)
  9. Fabiola Forteza, Club de Rugby de Quebec (Quebec, QC)
  10. Ngalula Fuamba, Town of Mount Royal (Notre Dame-de-l’il-Perrot, QC)
  11. Veronica Harrigan, London St Georges (Lucan, ON)
  12. Anais Holly, TMRRFC (Montreal, QC)
  13. Courtney Holtkamp, Red Deer Titans (Rimbey, AB)
  14. McKinley Hunt, Aurora Barbarians (King City, ON)
  15. Emmanuela Jada, Guelph Redcoats (Guelph, ON)
  16. Brittany Kassil, Guelph Redcoats (Guelph, ON)
  17. Brianna Miller, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC (Pointe-Claire, QC)
  18. Jess Neilson, Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)
  19. Cindy Nelles, Belleville Bulldogs (Belleville, ON)
  20. Emily Nicholl, Guelph Redcoats (Toronto, ON)
  21. Justine Pelletier, Club de Rugby de Quebec (Quebec City, QC)
  22. Nadia Popov, Aurora Barbarians (Newmarket, ON)
  23. Laura Russell, Toronto Nomads / Cowichan RFC (Bolton, ON)
  24. Janna Slevinsky, Calgary Saracens (St. Albert, AB)
  25. Sara Svoboda, Toronto Saracens (Belleville, ON)
  26. Emma Taylor, Railway Union (Scotsburn, NS)
  27. Emily Tuttosi, Calgary Hornets (Souris, MB)

Non-travelling reserves:

  1. Chanelle Edwards-Challenger, Castaway Wanderers (Calgary, AB)
  2. Colleen Irowa, Toronto Saracens (Toronto, ON)
  3. Chelsey Minter, Westshore RFC (Victoria, BC)
  4. Elysa Sandron, Calgary Hornets (Winnipeg, MB)
  5. Gabrielle Senft, Castaway Wanderers, (Regina, SK)
  6. Julia Schell, Guelph Redcoats (Uxbridge, ON)
  7. Daria Keane, Guelph Redcoats (Sarnia, ON)

Old Mutual Wealth Series 2017:

November 17, 2017

Canada vs. England

Allianz Park – 7:30pm local time (2:30pm ET/11:30am PT)

Live streamed on England Rugby’s Facebook page

November 21, 2017

Canada vs. England

Twickenham Stoop – 7:45pm local time (2:45pm ET/11:45pm PT)

Broadcast TBD

November 25, 2017

Canada vs. England

Twickenham Stadium – 5:40pm local time (12:40pm ET/9:40am PT)

Broadcast TBD

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