Canada squad named as they hope to go back to back against the Red Roses

After a record-breaking crowd of 18,621 propelled Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team to victory over reigning world champions England in Toronto, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s match-day roster for the third and final meeting between the two sides this fall. The series finale will take place Friday night at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.

"It felt amazing to get the win last week but that game still left us with a lot to work on and improve if we want to get another win on Friday in Ottawa," said Rouet. "It's the final week of tour for us and we want to finish strong so practice this week has been all about adjusting and correcting parts of our game while making sure players can rest and recover to be ready for another big match." 

The most notable change to Canada’s roster this week sees Taylor Perry return to her familiar fly-half position, while Shoshanah Seumanutafa earns a start at inside centre after scoring the go-ahead try in Canada’s win over England last week.  

Gabrielle Senft moves into the starting fifteen and giving Caroline Crossley the opportunity to come off the bench. Crossley will be looking to make her first appearance in a 15s jersey for Canada since last year’s Rugby World Cup. 

Friday’s match in Ottawa is the second of two games being played in Canada this October against the reigning World Cup champions from England. The Rugby Rematch Tour, presented by Canadian Tire, marked the first time the team plays on home soil since placing second at last year’s Rugby World Cup. 

"The players really like playing in Ottawa," added Rouet. "We have had some great crowds each time we've played here over the last couple of years. Really looking forward to another game in Canada with our fans supporting us and giving us that extra push at key points in the game. It makes such a big difference." 

WHERE TO WATCH  
Coverage of Canada’s Rugby Rematch Tour match against England will be available on TSN2 and the TSN app starting at 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET.

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS ENGLAND (OTTAWA) 
1. Mikiela Nelson (Vancouver, BC) - Capilano RFC (15 caps)   
2. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) - Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds / Toronto Scottish (7 caps)  
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs / Calgary Hornets (76 caps)  
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) - Saracens / Castaway Wanderers (47 caps)  
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University (29 caps)  
6. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Stade Bordelais / Castaway Wanderers (47 caps) 
7. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Saracens / Calgary Irish Rugby Club (13 caps)  
8. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Queen’s University / Oakville Crusaders (6 caps)  
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) - Saracens / Lindsay RFC (29 caps)  
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders (30 caps) 
11. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) - Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (15 caps) 
12. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (29 caps) 
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) - Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (22 caps)  
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) - Saracens / CRFC (27 caps) 
15. Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) - UBC Thunderbirds / Capilano RFC (3 caps)  
 
FINISHERS  
16. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets (46 caps) 
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Ontario West / Guelph Goats (58 caps) 
18. Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON) - Loughborough Lightning / Ontario West / Brantford Harlequins (5 caps)  
19. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec (46 caps) 
20. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Loughborough Lightning / Ottawa Irish (25 caps) 
21. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers (13 caps) 
22. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec (50 caps)  
23. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Exeter Chiefs / Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (72 caps)