The Canadian squad will tour South Africa next month.
With the announcement this week of the schedule and first six players on each of the national hockey sides for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, and the one-year-out anniversary of the Canada co-hosted 2026 men’s soccer World Cup, it is abundantly clear that next year’s top sports stories will be international in scope.
But rugby will get a one-year head start with the 2025 women’s World Cup this summer in England with several Island players expected on the Canadian team. That was reinforced with the Canadian roster announcement Tuesday for the upcoming tour of South Africa against the Springboks with Canada captain Sophie de Goede of Victoria and University of Victoria Vikes alumnae Paige Farries set to return from injury and former UVic star Pamphinette Buisa also named.
Joining them will be five players from the Canadian sevens team that won the silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics with Caroline Crossley of Victoria, UVic Vikes player Carissa Norsten, former Vikes star Krissy Scurfield, Fancy Bermudez of Westshore RFF and Asia Hogan-Rochester also named to the 39-player tryout camp to be held this month. Rori Wood of Sooke and Gabrielle Senft of the Castaway Wanderers also received invites.
Of the total, 33 players were part of Canada’s second-place finish in the Pacific Four Series in May with wins over the U.S. and Australia and draw against New Zealand.
Thirty-two players will travel with Canada, ranked No. 2 in the world, to play No. 12 South Africa on July 5 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria and July 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
“This training camp, and the matches against South Africa, are important components in our on- and off-field preparation for the World Cup,” Canadian head coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement.
“We will continue to refine our game play as we spend some valuable training hours together.”
Oak Bay Secondary Barbs graduates de Goede and Crossley will play in the World Cup with compelling back stories. Olympic-medallist Crossley is balancing international rugby while attending McGill law school and captain de Goede, considered one of the best players in the world, is returning to lead Canada after rehabbing from a devastating ACL injury incurred on the eve of the Paris Olympics.
Canada will open the 2025 World Cup against No. 15 Fiji on Aug. 23 at York Stadium and continue in Pool B on Aug. 30 against No. 10 Wales at Salford Stadium in Manchester and conclude pool play against No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 at Sandy Park in Exeter.
The World Cup opens Aug. 22 with England playing the U.S. at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. The final is Sept. 27 on the hallowed pitch of Twickenham, now known as Allianz Stadium.
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