As the “Journey to the Rugby World Cup” continues, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named his squad for the team’s July camp, from which he will pick his game day roster to face Italy.

Three BC athletes are included in the squad – congratulations to Victoria’s Sophie de Goede (Castaway Wanderers), Abbotsford’s Mackenzie Carson (Saracens) and North Vancouver’s Mikiela Nelson (UBC/Capilano RFC) on their selections!

Westshore RFC’s Elissa Alarie, Renee Gonzalez, and Paige Farries, Castaway Wanderers Gabrielle Senft, Julia Schell Capilano RFC’s Gillian Bong, Cowichan RFC’s Laura Russell and Tyson Beukeboom are also selected.

On Sunday, July 24, the Women’s 15s, whose official team partner is NFP, will take on Italy at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC, the home of Rugby Canada, before heading east to Halifax, NS where they will host Wales at the Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, August 27.

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Having competed in the Pacific Four Series in New Zealand last month, where Canada claimed victories over the USA and Australia, the squad came back together on Friday to officially begin the camp, though many players had previously gathered in Langford as part of a soft centralization.

Among those in the squad, Audrey Champagne and Mahalia Robinson are participating in the first senior camp of their careers, while Fabiola Forteza and Janna Slevinsky have returned from injury and are included alongside Mackenzie Carson.

“The goal of this July camp is to bring the group together and continue our preparations for the Rugby World Cup. The experience of hosting and playing in a home test match for the first time in seven years will be one to savour for the players. Italy will be a tough opponent as they are ranked No. 6 in the world, and we expect them to provide us with a difficult test. This match will also give us the opportunity to put the plans we work on during the camp into action.” Canada Senior Women’s XVs Head Coach Kevin Rouet

To view the full squad, click here.