Chiefs trio set for Bronze Medal match

By Mark Stevens
10/11/22

Three Exeter Chiefs players have been named in Canada’s match-day squad for their Bronze Medal match against France at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Emily Tuttosi, DeLeaka Menin will both start for Kevin Rouet’s side with Gabby Senft named amongst the replacements. Former Chiefs, Olivia De Merchant and McKinley Hunt, also start the game.

Rouet has made two changes to his squad from that which lost to England in last Saturday’s semi-final at Eden Park. Loughborough’s Sara Svoboda comes in at blind-side flanker with Emma Taylor (Scotsburn) included on the bench.

Full-back Elissa Alarie is named to start in what will be her final game for Canada, while lock Tyson Beukeboom is set to move into second-place on Canada’s all-time Women’s 15s cap list when she joins the action off bench.

Head coach Rouet said: “We’re excited about this group who will represent us for the final time at this World Cup. We felt the roster could benefit from some fresh energy at this stage of the tournament, and Sara and Emma have trained well to earn this opportunity.

“France are a good team, and we will have to be at our best to get the bronze medal but achieving that has been our team’s sole focus this week and we’ll be ready to play when we arrive to Eden Park.”

CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM TO FRANCE WOMEN

1. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans
5. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
6. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC – Club de rugby de Québec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
8. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC
9. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) – Riviere-du-Loup, QC
10. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
11. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Worcester Warriors
12. Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) – Toronto Scottish
13. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
14. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) – University of Ottawa
15. Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) – Westshore RFC

16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph, ON
18. Alex Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
19. Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) – HRFC
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Exeter Chiefs / Regina Rogues Rugby Club
22. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec
23. Anaïs Holly (Montreal, QC) – Town of Mont Royal RFC