Canada Select Experienced Squad For WRWC 2017
Canada Women’s head coach Francois Ratier has named a 28-strong squad for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup which will be held in Ireland next month.
The squad features 18 returning players from Canada’s 2014 WRWC squad that won silver, including inspirational captain Kelly Russell and flying winger and Player of the Tournament, Magali Harvey.
“I would say our capacity to respond to challenges is the greatest strength of this squad,” commented head coach Francois Ratier. “We were hard on players in New Zealand (last month) and during the Can-Am Series to make sure they were not in the team just to wear the jersey but to perform in every game. They have responded well and we’re expecting the same during this tough World Cup.”
In addition to Russell and Harvey, Elissa Alarie, Emily Belchos, Tyson Beukeboom, Latoya Blackwood, Andrea Burk, Olivia DeMerchant, Jacey Grusnick, Jane Kirby, Kayla Mack, Barbara Mervin, Cindy Nelles, Karen Paquin, Laura Russell, Amanda Thornborough, Brittany Waters and Julianne Zussman all return from 2014.
Chelsea Guthrie, Lori Josephson, Brittany Kassil, Carolyn McEwen, DaLeaka Menin, Brianna Miller, Chelsey Minter, Frederique Rajotte, Kristy Sargent and Alex Tessier will all make their Women’s Rugby World Cup debuts in Ireland. Furthermore, Gillian Boag, Anais Holly, Daria Keane, Katie McNally, Camille Provencal-Aube, Natasha Smith and Sara Svoboda have been named as non-travelling reserves.
The Canucks’ selected squad shows very little turnover from the Can-Am Series and the International Women’s Series earlier this year, with Ratier adding: “We want to keep some continuity in our work and it’s important for players to know each other on and off the field. We also have a non-travelling list of players who know our plans and culture.”
Canada beat the USA twice in March, winning 39-5 and 37-10, before heading to New Zealand for the International Series. Ratier’s side finished third in the series after a 28-16 loss to the Black Ferns, a 27-20 defeat to England and a resounding 45-5 final round win over Australia.
Heading into the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Canada are ranked third in the world. In Ireland, they will contest Pool A with tournament newcomers Hong Kong, 10th-ranked Wales and second-ranked New Zealand. All three pool games will take place at Billings Park in UCD.
“First we need to get through the pool. With this tournament format there’s no room for mistakes. We will take it one game at a time and we will see where we are at the end, but right now our entire focus is on the (opening) game against Hong Kong,” concluded the French-born coach.
#WRWC2017 Team Profile: Canada
WRWC 2017 Fixtures:
Pool A –
Canada v Hong Kong, Billings Park, UCD, 5.15pm, Wednesday, August 9
Canada v Wales, Billings Park, UCD, 5pm, Sunday, August 13
Canada v New Zealand, Billings Park, UCD, 12pm, Thursday, August 17
For more on the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, visit the tournament website – www.rwcwomens.com. Buy your match tickets for #WRWC2017 now on www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017 and www.ticketmaster.ie/wrwc2017.
CANADA WRWC 2017 Squad: Backs (12) – Elissa Alarie (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC), Emily Belchos (Westshore RFC), Andrea Burk (Capilano RFC), Chelsea Guthrie (Stratchona Druids), Magali Harvey (Club de Rugby de Quebec), Lori Josephson (Aurora Barbarians), Brianna Miller (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC), Frederique Rajotte (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC), Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians), Amanda Thornborough (Westshore RFC), Brittany Waters (Meraloma Athletic Club/Castaway Wanderers), Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers).
Forwards (16) – Tyson Beukeboom (Aurora Barbarians/Cowichan RFC), Latoya Blackwood (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC), Olivia DeMerchant (Woodstock Wildmen/Castaway Wanderers), Jacey Grusnick (Aurora Barbarians), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), Jane Kirby (Highland Fergus Rugby Club), Kayla Mack (Saskatoon Wild Oats), Carolyn McEwen (Burnaby Lake RFC), DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets), Barbara Mervin (Westshore RFC), Chelsey Minter (Westshore RFC), Cindy Nelles (Belleville Bulldogs), Karen Paquin (Club de Rugby de Quebec/Castaway Wanderers), Kelly Russell (Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC) (capt), Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC), Kristy Sargent (Leprechaun Tigers).
Non-Travelling Reserves: Gillian Boag (Capilano RFC), Anais Holly (TMRRFC), Daria Keane (Guelph Redcoats), Katie McNally (Castaway Wanderers), Camile Provencal-Aube (Abénakis et CRQ/Castaway Wanderers), Natasha Smith (Barrhaven Scottish/Cowichan RFC), Sara Svoboda (Belleville Bulldogs).