Chiefs trio in Canada Women's squad
By Harry Scott-Munro
16/10/21
Exeter Chiefs Women’s trio Olivia De Merchant, Emily Tuttosi and DaLeaka Menin will all be looking to make their mark this autumn, having been named in Canadian Head Coach Sandro Fiorino’s squad for the upcoming autumn internationals.
Canada will face North American neighbours the USA Eagles in their first two fixtures, before heading over to Europe to take on Wales and England as they continue preparations for the rescheduled Rugby World Cup in October 2022.
Canada’s opening two matches of the tour will also mark the start of the Pacific Four Series, a new women’s competition that will launch with Canada and USA going head-to-head on November 1 and 5, before New Zealand and Australia join the competition prior to the Rugby World Cup.
Canada have named an experienced squad heading into their November matches with a total of 398 caps spread across the side. Laura Russell will captain her side and will also be looking to earn her 50th cap. Team-mates Alex Tessier, Emily Belchos de Goede, Karen Paquin and Menin will all be searching for their 30th caps for their country during the international window.
There are also five uncapped players in the squad, with Julia Schell, Laetitia Royer, Sarah Maude Lachance, Nakisa Levale and Renee Gonzalez all looking to earn their international debuts in the 15s form of the game.
Levale and Gonzalez are both performed impressively in September’s HSBC Canada Sevens Fast Four events in Vancouver and Edmonton and have progressed through Rugby Canada’s Maple Leaf Academy prior to their international call-ups.
Speaking ahead of the tour, Head Coach Fiorino was excited to get underway. He said: “We are very excited to get our Fall Tour underway with this group of players. Our upcoming matches will provide the competitions necessary for us to continue building as a team as we draw closer to kick-off of World Cup 2021.”
Canada Squad
Alex Ellis - Ottawa, Barrhaven Scottish/Saracens
Alexandra Tessier - Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
Brianna Miller - Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
|Brittany Kassil - Guelph Redcoats
Courtney Holtkamp - Red Deer Titans
DaLeaka Menin - Vulcan, AB - Exeter Chiefs
Elissa Alarie - Westshore RFC/SABRFC/Braves de TR
Emily Belchos de Goede - Westshore RFC
Emily Tuttosi - Souris, MB - Exeter Chiefs
Emma Taylor -HRFC
Gabrielle Senft - Castaway Wanders
Gillian Boag - Capilano RFC
Janna Slevinsky -Saracens
Julia Schell -Guelph Redcoats
Justine Pelletier - Les Lionnes du stade bordelais
Karen Paquin - Stade Bordelais
Laetitia Royer -Lons Section Paloise/
Laura Russell -Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC
Marie Thibault - Club de Rugby de Quebec
Mikiela Nelson - UBC Rugby/Capilano Rugby
Nakisa Levale - Abbotsford RFC
Ngalula Fuamba - Notre-Dame-de-l'ÃŽle-Perrot, QC - T.M.R.R.F.C.
Olivia DeMerchant - Exeter Chiefs
Paige Farries - Worcester Warriors
Pamphinette Buisa - Ottawa Irish
Renee Gonzalez -Westshore RFC
Sabrina Poulin -TMRRFC/Stade Rennais
Sara Kaljuvee - Toronto Scottish
Sarah-Maude Lachance - Lons Section Paloise Rugby Feminin
Sophie de Goede - Castaway Wanderers RFC
Tyson Beukeboom - Cowichan RFC
Veronica Harrigan - Brantford Harlequins