Canada’s women’s rugby team scores 3 tries in loss to New Zealand in front of a record crowd

It was a women’s rugby celebration in Ottawa on Saturday.

A record crowd of 10,092 fans watched Sophie de Goede, Fabiola Forteza and Olivia DeMerchant try for Canada in a 52-21 loss to reigning World Champion New Zealand Black Ferns at TD Place in Pacific Four Series action – key preparation for the World Cup 2025 England Cup.

It was the largest crowd in the program’s history.

Victoria’s Captain Good put the No. 4 Canadians on the board late in the first half shortly before Quebec City’s Forteza added her own try. de Goede’s two conversions made it 21-14 in favor of the visitors.

Second-seeded Black Ferns took control of the game early on. Luka Connor put New Zealand ahead in the second minute, with Ruahei Demant and Mererangi Paul each adding a try in the first half for a 21–0 lead.

Amy du Plessis extended New Zealand’s lead to 28-14 with the first points of the second half.

DeMerchant of Mapledale, NB, who earned her 55th cap and now ranks third all-time for Canada next to Maria Gallo, wasted no time answering to keep the game within a try, with De Goede adding a conversion to make it 28- to bring 21.

However, from then on it was all New Zealand.

Paul posted her second try of the day, but the game’s only missed kick gave the Black Ferns a 33-21 lead.

The Canadian women will face Australia in fifth place to wrap up their Pacific Four Series campaign Friday at TD Place, after defeating No. 7 US 50-17 in Madrid in April to kick off the competition.

DaLeaka Menin of Vulcan, Alta., racked up 46 caps to tie Julia Sugawara for seventh all-time. Rugby sevens stars Olivia Apps of Lindsay, Ont., and Florence Symonds of Hong Kong made their international 15s debut.

Canada last faced New Zealand in June 2022, falling 28-0.

Inaugural WXV tournament berth

The top three teams will qualify for the top tier of the inaugural WXV Tournament, a new annual global women’s rugby 15s event similar to world championships in other sports, hosted in New Zealand and starting October 21.

England, France and Wales have already qualified. The lowest-ranked country in the Pacific Four Series moves to the second tier.

After Saturday’s round in which Australia defeated the US 58-17, New Zealand leads the Pacific Four standings by 10 points ahead of Canada and Australia, both with five. The Americans are at the bottom with zero points.

That means only an improbable victory by the US team against New Zealand on Friday can deter Canada from qualifying for the top six-team WXV league.

Former Canadian international Julianne Zussman served as the referee for the USA vs. Australia game in her hometown.

Canada’s under-20 women’s team also came into play on Saturday to kick off the triple-header at TD Place against the USA. Canada led 17-14 at halftime, but the Americans took the lead in the second half to win 40-24.

Carissa Norsten scored two tries for Canada, while Victoria Stanley and Tia Jordo had one each. Gerry Atkins and Lauren Maye each added a convert.

Canadian list

• Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB)
• Emily Tuttosi (Souris, male.)
• Daleaka Menin (Vulcan, Alta.)
• Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, Ontario)
• Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, Alta)
• Gabrielle Senst (Regina)
• Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City)
• Sophie the Good (Victoria)
• Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, Que.)
• Julia Schell (Uxbridge, Ontario)
• Paige Farries (Red Deer, Alta.)
• Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, Ont.)
• Fancy Bermuda (Edmonton)
• Florence Symonds (Hong Kong)
• Sabrina Poulin (St Georges, Que.)
• Gillian Boag (Calgary)
• McKinley Hunt (King City, Ont.)
• Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa)
• Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS)
• Sara Svoboda (Belleville, Ontario)
• Olivia Apps (Lindsay, Ont.)
• Claire Gallagher (Caledon, Ontario)
• Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC)