Rugby rematch on home soil

Canadian women look to topple England

Canada's Alexandra Tessier, taking part in a drill during a training session in Burlington, Ont., on Tuesday, is excited about the challenge ahead.

TORONTO — For the first time since settling for a second-place finish at the Rugby World Cup last year, Canada's women's team is set to play on home soil.

Canada will face world champion England in the opener of the rugby tour, with the two teams also set to square off on Oct. 23 at TD Place in Ottawa.

“You don't ask for (more) than playing a world champion at home,” said Canadian vice-captain Alexendra Tessier. “So it's just exciting to be able to have that game and you want to take on the challenge.”

More than 18,000 fans are expected for Saturday's match as Canada says it will set a North American attendance record for a standalone women's rugby match.

Players welcomed Crossley have joined the squad since Canada's first three WXV Grand Series Tests against Scotland, England and France.

Canada posted a 1-1-1 record over the stretch, including a 26-26 draw in Edinburgh and a hard-fought 38-19 loss to England beat Canada 33-15 at the 2025 World Cup final in London.

“We want to find a balance between being competitive and also building for the next few years,” Canadian coach Kevin Rouet said of the upcoming training session this week at Burlington Rugby Club. “So we are at this stage now. That new profile needs to challenge the older one, and I think it's good to see that in practice, that everybody is challenging each other.”

Rugby Canada announced Thursday that it has extended Rouet's contract through the end of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup edition of Canada, France, England and New Zealand since already qualified after reaching the quarterfinals last year.

Alysha Corrigan, who missed Canada's matches last month due to injury, has returned to the squad for this year's Rugby World Cup.

Tessier will start at fly-half for the first time since facing the United States in the 2021 repechage, with Taylor Perry moving to inside centre.

Rouet recently returned to Canada for the first time since suffering an injury before the World Cup. Britain's Kassie is also back on the squad after missing the opening games out of two of the European matches.

World Rugby's reigning women's player of the year Sophie Goedecke returns to the lineup for the first time since England after missing Canada's last match against France. Asa Hockenstell also returns to the squad.

Olivia Apps and Justine Pelletier are the other vice-captains.

“It's going to be a hard battle,” said Tessier. “They're quite physical, which we are, we're fast, and they have also some speed on the edge. I think the ball is going to move from one side to the other, from kick battles to wide open play, so we need to be ready for that.”

The recent draw with England has provided the Canadian team another boost of confidence now that it tackles this new four-year cycle in a budding rivalry will be Canada's first home game since a 43-30 win over the United States on Aug. 1, 2023, in Ottawa.

“This is huge for us in terms of our team and where we're heading in terms of building and beating England,” said Apps. “It's bigger than before, it's given us some sort of confidence, I guess, but also time to reflect on what we need to improve for next time in order to win.”

“I will be in the RFO field doing my rehab, watching them take on the kickoff of the WXV Global Series tour.