By Canadian Press

Tessier to lead Canada at women’s Rugby World Cup in England

Jul 24, 2025 | 8:57 AM

LANGFORD — Alexandra Tessier will captain Canada’s second-ranked squad when the 2025 Rugby World Cup kicks off in England.

Rugby Canada announced Thursday its 32-player roster for the elite women’s rugby tournament.

Tessier, a nominee for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2024, is set to earn her 59th cap for Canada.

She has scored six tries and 53 points over her 10-year international career that includes World Cup appearances in 2017 and 2021 (played in 2022).

Twenty-one players from the 2021 Rugby World Cup team have been named to head coach Kevin Rouet’s squad, including veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant and Karen Paquin. All three will represent Canada at the Rugby World Cup for a fourth time.

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Sophie de Goede, a member of the World Rugby Women’s Dream Team in 2022 and 2024, was named to her second World Cup squad. She came off the bench in a 33-5 win over South Africa earlier this month after a 13-month injury absence.

Canada is in Pool B with Fiji, Wales and Scotland. It opens its tournament Aug. 23 against Fiji in York.

The Canadians finished fourth at the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand. Their best finish was runner-up to England at the 2014 event in France.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.

The Canadian Press