World Cup stars return for Canada

Elissa Alarie, Karen Paquin, and captain Kelly Russell are among 16 veterans of the 2014 Women’s World Cup named by head coach François Ratier to travel with Canada on their three-match tour to Ireland and England this November. 2014 World Rugby Player of the Year Magali Harvey is also named after her headline-grabbing omission from Olympic 7s team. Russell and Paquin are the only members of the Bronze Medal-winning side to return to XVs.

Abrasive second or back row Latoya Blackwood joins the team from Toulouse in France and bolsters a forward pack bursting with class. Starting roles will be hotly contested at virtually position, with the loose forwards particularly flooded with talent. Established stars Barb Marvin and Jacey Grusnick (née Murphy) are joined by upcoming Fabiola Forteza, while DaLeaka Menin continues to impress in the front row alongside World Cup veterans Laura Russell, Mary-Jane Kirby, and Olivia DeMerchant.

The backs have a similarly impressive mix of youth and experience. Starting World Cup final halfbacks Alarie and Emily Belchos are present along with Dream Team centre Andrea Burk. Versatility is also a theme throughout, with several players capable of filling in at numerous positions. Alex Tessier has been capped at both flyhalf and centre, while Brittany Waters covers any of the outside back roles.

Canada are currently ranked 2nd on the official World Rugby Rankings. With only nine months remaining until the start of the 2017 Women’s World Cup in Ireland, Canada will be keen to retain their status if not move one higher, with an impressive undefeated 2016 Women’s Super Series already under their belts.

They will open the tour with a match against no5 Ireland, followed by a shot at the no1 New Zealand Black Ferns, and finally a rematch of the 2014 World Cup final against no3 England at Twickenham. The tour finale coincides with the England men’s test match against Argentina at the same venue. With kickoff times still to be determined it’s not clear whether the women’s match will be played before or after the men’s match.

All matches are set to be streamed live with details still to be confirmed.

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Woodstock Wildmen), Carolyn McEwan (Burnaby Lake), DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets), Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads), Demi Stamatakis (Simon Fraser), Julia Folk (Castaway Wanderers), Mary-Jane Kirby (Highland), Tyson Beukeboom (Aurora Barbarians), Latoya Blackwood (Toulouse, FR), Kayla Mack (Wild Oats), Fabiola Forteza (CRQ), Jacey Grusnick (Aurora Barbarians), Barb Mervin (Westshore), Karen Paquin (CRQ), Kelly Russell (Toronto Nomads)

BACKS
Elissa Alarie (SABRFC), Chelsea Guthrie (Strathcona Druids), Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Emily Belchos (Markham Irish), Anaïs Holly (TMR), Andrea Burk (Capilano), Mackenzie Higgs (Aurora Barbarians), Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians), Magali Harvey (CRQ), Frédérique Rajotte (SABRFC), Brittany Waters (Castaway Wanderers), Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers)

FIXTURES (times tbd)
Nov 19 – vs Ireland – UCD Bowl, Dublin
Nov 23 – vs New Zealand – Donnybrook, Dublin
Nov 26 – vs England – Twickenham, England