By Canadian Press

Canada captain Sophie de Goede starts on the bench in return from knee injury

Jul 9, 2025 | 12:47 PM

Captain Sophie de Goede, returning to action after a 13-month injury absence, starts on the bench Saturday when Canada faces South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in a women’s rugby test match in Gqeberha, South Africa.

The 26-year-old from Victoria last played May 19, 2024, in Canada’s 22-19 win over World Cup champion New Zealand in the Pacific Four Series finale. De Goede tore her anterior cruciate ligament on June 21, 2024, in a non-contact scrimmage against the United States on the last day of a Canada sevens camp in Chula Vista, Calif.

Second-ranked Canada defeated the 12th-ranked Springbok women 50-20 in a physical contest Saturday in Pretoria, improving its all-time record against South Africa to 5-0-0. Once again the women will take the field ahead of the men’s match between the top-ranked Springboks and No. 10 Italy for the second-straight week.

The South African men won 42-24 in Pretoria.

Only hooker Gillian Boag, lock-turned-flanker Laetitia Royer No. 8 Gabrielle Senft and fullback Julia Schell retain their place in the Canadian starting 15.

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“One of the main purposes of this tour was to make sure all 32 players got valuable playing experience and to give them the opportunity to showcase themselves on the field,” head coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “It was a tough encounter in altitude last weekend, it’s now time to keep growing and gaining experience with our next game.

“You’ll see that there are a lot of changes to our team compared to last week but this tour was about building our depth and confidence ahead of the World Cup. I am excited to see how this group performances this week.”

Rouet had said earlier that de Goede would see limited action off the bench, perhaps 20 minutes in her return to play.

De Goede, one of three Canadians on World Rugby’s 2024 Women’s 15s Dream Team and a finalist for World Rugby’s 2022 Women’s 15s Player of the Year is in line to earn her 33rd cap.

Carissa Norsten, named the 2024 HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year, starts on the wing in her Canadian 15s debut while hooker Taylor McKnight, from the University of Guelph, is in line for her first cap off the bench.

With stand-in skipper Alex Tessier not part of the matchday squad, veteran lock Tyson Beukeboom will lead Canada out Saturday, earning a record 76th cap.

After the South Africa tour, Canada plays the ninth-ranked U.S., on Aug. 1 in Ottawa and No. 5 Ireland on Aug. 9 in Dublin. The Canadian women open the World Cup in England against No. 15 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 10 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter.

South Africa will play out of Group D with No. 4 France, No. 8 Italy and No. 28 Brazil.

Canada’s record is 13-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to No. 3 New Zealand. Canada and New Zealand played to a 27-27 tie in May in Pacific Four Series play.

Canada Roster

Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont. Guelph Goats; Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Olivia DeMerchant, Mapledale, N.B., Halifax Tars RFC; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Carissa Norsten, Waldheim, Sask., University of Victoria; Maddy Grant, Cornwall, Ont., Cornwall Claymores; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Krissy Scurfield, Canmore, Alta., Loughborough Lightning (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England).

Replacements

Taylor McKnight, Stouffville, Ont., Aurora Barbarians; Mikiela Nelson, North Vancouver, B.C., Exeter Chiefs (England); Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Courtney O’Donnell, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; Rachel Smith, South Surrey, B.C., UBC; Sophie de Goede, Victoria, Saracens (England); Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Florence Symonds, Vancouver, UBC.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press