Chiefs trio set for semi-final showdown

By Mark Stevens
3/11/22

Exeter Chiefs trio DeLeaka Menin, Emily Tuttosi and Gabby Senft will all form part of Canada Women’s match-day squad for their Rugby World Cup semi-final against England at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.

Forwards Menin and Tuttosi both start in the front-row, alongside former Chief, Olivia De Merchant, whilst another of Exeter’s past, lock McKinley Hunt, also starts in the Canadian engine room against the Red Roses.

Senft, meanwhile, has been named amongst the replacement for Kevin Rouet’s side, who last week booked their place in the last four with victory over the USA Eagles.

Unbeaten so far in the tournament, head coach Rouet is looking forward to the clash with the tournament favourites, who welcome Exeter’s Claudia MacDonald back into their starting line-up.

Rouet said: “It’s of course a big step up in competition this week, but we’re excited for that challenge. We’ve focused this week on the areas we can improve, and I think we’ve been getting better each week, so our mindset doesn’t change.

“The players have sacrificed a lot to be here, there’s a job to do on Saturday and we’ll arrive at Eden Park ready to go.”

CANADA WOMEN TO FACE ENGLAND 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 / Exeter Chiefs
6. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec
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. Ngalula Fuamba (Notre Dame de-l'ile-Perrot, QC) – T.M.R.R.F.C.
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Exeter Chiefs / Regina Rogues Rugby Club
22. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
23. Anaïs Holly (Montreal, QC) – Town of Mont-Royal RFC