# Canada women's national rugby union team

The Canada women's national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union competitions. They are overseen by Rugby Canada, the governing body of rugby union in Canada.

## History

The Canadian women's program began to develop in the 1980s with the first match being played in 1987 in Victoria, British Columbia against another international rugby start-up, the United States. It was the first women's international test match that was played outside of Europe.
In 1991, Canada competed in the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales. The team finished in fifth place after defeating Spain 19–4 in the Plate final. Canada has appeared in every World Cup since 1991.
Canada were finalists at the 2014 Rugby World Cup. They were drawn in the same pool with eventual winners, England. They had a 13 all draw during the pool stage before meeting in the final, Canada lost 21–9 and were runners-up.
In 2022, Canada finished fourth after losing to France in the third place final at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup.

## Competitive record
### World Cup

World Cup record :
| Year | Round | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 1991 | Plate Winners | 5th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 80 | 37 |
| 1994 | Shield Finalists | 6th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 105 | 46 |
| 1998 | 3rd Place Play-off | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 163 |
| 2002 | 3rd Place Play-off | 4th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 94 |
| 2006 | 3rd Place Play-off | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 145 | 28 |
| 2010 | 5th place match | 6th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 146 | 66 |
| 2014 | Finalists | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 113 | 62 |
| 2017 | 5th place match | 5th | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 213 | 60 |
| 2021 | 3rd Place Play-off | 4th | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 143 | 104 |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2029 | TBD |
| 2033 | TBD |
| Total | 9/9 | | 45 | 24 | 2 | 19 | 1081 | 660 |
| Champion Runner-up Third place Fourth place * Tied placing $^†$ Best placing Home venue |||||||||

## Head-to-head record
### Overall

(Full internationals only; Last updated 13 October 2024)

## Players
### Current squad

On 19 September 2024, Kévin Rouet announced Canada's 30-player squad for the WXV 1 competition, taking place in Canada.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Club/province |
| Alexandria Ellis | Prop | (1995-08-01)1 August 1995 (aged 29) | Stade Français |
| Brittany Kassil | Prop | (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 33) | Guelph Goats |
| Caroline Crossley | Forward | (1998-04-19)19 April 1998 (aged 26) | Castaway Wanderers |
| Courtney Holtkamp | Back row | (1999-04-25)25 April 1999 (aged 25) | Red Deer Titans Rugby |
| DaLeaka Menin | Prop | (1995-06-16)16 June 1995 (aged 29) | Exeter Chiefs |
| Emily Tuttosi | Hooker | (1995-09-21)21 September 1995 (aged 29) | Exeter Chiefs |
| Fabiola Forteza | Back row | (1995-08-04)4 August 1995 (aged 29) | Stade Bordelais |
| Gabrielle Senft | Back row | (1997-06-13)13 June 1997 (aged 27) | Saracens |
| Gillian Boag | Hooker | (1995-02-19)19 February 1995 (aged 29) | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Julia Omokhuale | Back row | | Leicester Tigers |
| Karen Paquin | Back row | (1987-08-03)3 August 1987 (aged 37) | Club de rugby de Quebec |
| Laetitia Royer | Back row | (1991-02-09)9 February 1991 (aged 33) | ASM Romagnat |
| McKinley Hunt | Lock | (1997-01-05)5 January 1997 (aged 27) | Saracens |
| Pamphinette Buisa | Back row | (1996-12-28)28 December 1996 (aged 27) | Ottawa Irish |
| Rori Wood | Lock | | College Rifles RFC |
| Sara Cline | Hooker | (1997-05-21)21 May 1997 (aged 27) | Leprechaun Tigers |
| Tyson Beukeboom | Lock | (1991-03-10)10 March 1991 (aged 33) | Trailfinders |
| Alexandra Tessier | Fly-half | (1993-09-03)3 September 1993 (aged 31) | Exeter Chiefs |
| Alysha Corrigan | Back | (1997-01-25)25 January 1997 (aged 27) | Canada Sevens |
| Asia Hogan-Rochester | Back | (1999-04-20)20 April 1999 (aged 25) | Toronto Nomands |
| Claire Gallagher | Fly-half | | Leicester Tigers |
| Fancy Bermudez | Centre | (2002-05-27)27 May 2002 (aged 22) | Saracens |
| Julia Schell | Back | (1996-07-13)13 July 1996 (aged 28) | Trailfinders |
| Justine Pelletier | Scrum-half | (2001-02-27)27 February 2001 (aged 23) | Stade Bordelais |
| Mahalia Robinson | Fullback | | Town of Mount Royal RFC |
| Olivia Apps | Scrum-half | (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 (aged 25) | Lindsay RFC |
| Paige Farries | Wing | (1994-08-12)12 August 1994 (aged 30) | Saracens |
| Sara Kaljuvee | Back | (1993-02-07)7 February 1993 (aged 31) | Toronto Scottish / Westshore RFC |
| Shoshanah Seumanutafa | Back | | Counties Manukau |
| Taylor Perry | Fly-half | (2000-07-23)23 July 2000 (aged 24) | Exeter Chiefs |

### Previous squads

Rugby World Cup Squads :
vteCanada squad – 2021 Rugby World CupForwards
Beukeboom
Boag
De Goede (c)
DeMerchant
Ellis
Forteza
Fuamba
Harrigan
Holtkamp
Hunt
Kassil
Menin
Nelson
Paquin
Senft
Svoboda
Taylor
Tuttosi
Backs
Alarie
Buisa
Corrigan
Farries
Grant
Holly
Kaljuvee
Lachance
Miller
Pelletier
Perry
Poulin
Schell
Tessier
Thibault
Coach: Rouet
vteCanada 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup squadForwards
Grusnick
Mervin
Miller
Nelles
Paquin
Kirby
McEwen
L. Russell
Sargent
Beukeboom
Blackwood
Mack
K. Russell
DeMerchant
Kassil
Menin
Minter
Backs
Burk
Tessier
Thornborough
Waters
Belchos
Zussman
Josephson
Alarie
Harvey
Rajotte
Coach: Ratier
vteCanada 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup squad (runners-up)Forwards
DeMerchant
Leith
Pinault-Reid
L. Russell
Donaldson
Kirby
Beukeboom
Blackwood
Mack
Samson
Mervin
Murphy
Paquin
K. Russell
Backs
Bernier
Sugawara
Belchos
Zussman
Benn
Burk
Marchak
Thornborough
Waters
Dovanne
Harvey
Alarie
Coach: Ratier
vteCanada 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup squadForwards
Cripps
K. Donaldson
M. Donaldson
Florence
Gibbs
Jacobsen
Jacques
Kish
Knauf
MacDonald
McKenzie
Mervin
K. Russell
Stavrou
Backs
Gallo
Hilditch
Marchak
Moyse
Patzer
Phillips
Schnell
Stoughton
Sugawara
Ulmer
Waters
Zussman
Coach: Long
vteCanada 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup squadForwards
Burns
Cripps
Eldridge
Florence
Gibbs
Jacques
Lamoureux
McMahon
D. McDonald
H. McDonald
McKenzie
Murray
Smortchevsky
Yeo
Burdett
Donaldson
Kryszak
Mervin
Backs
Christie
Dance
Foster
Gallo
Heemskerk
Marchak
McCallum
Moyse
Schnell
Steele
Sugawara
Ulmer
Cation
McAuley
Coach: Langevin
vteCanada 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup squadForwards
Chintoh
Cripps
Eldridge
Florence
Goulet
Keim
Lacasse
MacMahon
Murray
Shiels
Smithson
Todd
Turner
Backs
Baillie
Christie
Dance
Foster
Gallo
McAuley
Mccallum
Murphy
Sparling
Thompson
Ulmer
vteCanada 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup squadPlayers
Asprey
Begin
Burrell
Darby
Denike
Fairclough
Fleming
Florence
Foster
Gardner
Hall
Hickie
Hunt
Lacasse
Leclair
MacMahon
Minutillo
Shiels
Sparling
Stocki
Todd
Trussell
Walsh
Wesch
Wilson
vteCanada 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup squad
Antiniou
Carlson
Florence
Fuchs
Gardner
Green
Johnson
Kozakavich
Lacasse
Leclair
Lundy
Matthew
McGann
Miciak
Muller
Orescanin
Pare
Pearce
Ross
Russell
Shiel
Styles
Von Schoening
Wesch
White (c)
Wilson
Coaches: Humphreys and O'Hanley
vteCanada 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup squad
Chalmer
Enns
Fuchs
Gompf
Green
Haimovici
Hellerud-Brown
Johnsen
Kozakavick
McKenzie
Muller
Pare
Peterson
Petryk
Reinbold
Russell
Shapland
Shiels
Skrobot
Stephen
Swift
Tokariuk
Whalley
White :

### Notable players

* Heather Moyse is the first Canadian woman to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016. She has represented Canada in rugby, cycling and bobsleigh; She won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014. She has made 22 international appearances for Canada in 15s and has been to two Women's Rugby World Cups in 2006 and 2010. She also helped Canada finish in second place at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia.

### Award winners

The following Canada players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:
World Rugby Player of the Year :
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2014 | Magali Harvey | Magali Harvey |
| 2014 | Kelly Russell | Magali Harvey |
| 2022 | Sophie de Goede | — |
| 2024 | Alex Tessier | — |
World Rugby Dream Team of the Year :
| Year | No. | Players |
| 2021 | 7. | Karen Paquin |
| 2022 | 2. | Emily Tuttosi |
| 2022 | 8. | Sophie de Goede |
| 2024 | 5. | Laetitia Royer |
| 2024 | 7. | Sophie de Goede (2) |
| 2024 | 12. | Alex Tessier |

## Honours

* Women's Rugby World Cup
    Runners-up (1): 2014
* WXV 1
    Runners-up (1): 2023
* Pacific Four Series
    Champions (2): 2021, 2024
    Runners-up (2): 2022, 2023
* Women's Super Series
    Champions (1): 2016
* Women's Nations Cup
    Champions (1): 2013
    Runners-up (2): 2008, 2011