Kevin Rouet has announced the 32 names of players who will take on England in a two-match tour.
They are:
Forwards
Alexandria Ellis (Saracens)
*Ashlynn Smith (University of Calgary)
Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers)
Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans)
DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs )
Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs)
Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais)
Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers)
Gillian Boag (Capilano)
*Julia Omokhuale (University of Calgary)
Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat)
McKinley Hunt (Saracens)
Mikiela Nelson (Capilano)
Olivia DeMerchant (Halifax Tars)
Sara Cline (Leprechaun Tigers)
Sara Svoboda (Loughborough Lightning )
Sophie de Goede (Saracens)
Tyson Beukeboom (Trailfinders)
(18)
Backs
Alexandra Tessier (Exeter Chiefs )
Claire Gallagher (University of Ottawa)
Fancy Bermudez (Westshore)
Florence Symonds (University of British Columbia)
Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais)
*Krissy Scurfield (University of Victoria)
Madison Grant (Cornwall Claymores)
Magali Harvey (Stade Bordelais )
Olivia Apps (Lindsay)
Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors )
Sabrina Poulin (Eibar Rugby Taldea)
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Lons)
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (University of British Columbia)
Taylor Perry (Oakville Crusaders)
(14)
*uncapped
Non-travelling reserves:
Abby Duguid, Alysha Corrigan, Brittany Kassil, Chloe Daniels, Corinne Fréchette, Emma Taylor, Holly Phillips, Julia Schell, Mahalia Robinson, Mya Brubacher (10_
Unavailable:
Brianna Miller, Cassandra Tuffnail, Karen Paquin, Maya Montiel, Pamphinette Buisa, Sara Kaljuvee
The good news includes:
The surprise return of Magali Harvey, nine years after her spell-binding performances at the Paris RWC, where she was declared Player of the Tournament. She hasn’t represented her country in this format since 2018. It can be little surprise that Stade Bordelais have recently signed her up. Their net manages to trawl any number of top players these days.
The return from Sevens duties of Sophie de Goede and Justine Pelletier. The squad would have been missing two vital ingredients without them. But De Goede may be able to hand over place-kicking duties to Harvey. Five others also return from their successful qualification for the Olympic Sevens.
Rouet hasn’t needed to call up hosts of uncapped players. That was a striking weakness when the Maple Leafs visited England in 2017. This new squad is far more experienced at international level.
The less good news is covered in the missing persons list near the end. We will be deprived of seeing Karen Paquin once more, though opposing back-rows will have one big threat less to deal with.
A central question is how well the Maple Leafs can cover up these six absentees. That may turn out to be an area where England can profit. They have mssing players too, but talented replacements aren’t hard to find.
As usual, Rouet has had less time together with his full squad than he would have liked. They haven’t assembled since the end of the Pacific Four series in Ottawa in July. But that is a situation well known to everyone.
The games serve as warm-ups for both teams for the WXV barely a month later.
The two matches:
Saturday September 23, Sandy Park, Exeter
Saturday September 30, StoneX Stadium, Hendon
