Four Chiefs in Canada team for critical Pacific Four Series game

Canada head coach Kevin Rouet has selected four Chiefs Women for their final Pacific Four Series game in this year’s tournament.

Rouet has selected DaLeaka Menin, try-scorer from the game against the Black Ferns, to start at tight-head against the Wallaroos with captain Alex Tessier at inside centre. Hooker Emily Tuttosi will be looking to make an impact from the bench alongside recalled Mikiela Nelson.

Menin said: “The anticipation was pretty big leading into the Black Ferns game for a variety of reasons; one, of course, was that we would have loved to recreate last year’s win. It would have been amazing to repeat it, but we still put out a big performance that we can be proud.

“It was a physical and fast game and that is what we wanted to bring. And while it came to a tie, we saw some things coming together and saw where we were lacking and need to tighten up for both the Australia game and for building into a big international season.

“It is a tight turn around for the last game of this PAC4 but our focus is to put in another big shift where we can showcase some more fast-paced rugby and hopefully finish the tour on a high note.”

Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all still in contention to win the 2025 PAC4. The Canadians will look to earn a bonus point victory over Australia to give themselves the best chance at defending their title. The winners will not be known until the conclusion of the May 24 match between New Zealand and the USA.

Tessier said: “We are excited for another opportunity to put up a performance in our last match of the PAC4 against Australia. Few learnings from our last match that we are eager to fix and build on. The group is doing well and we are ready!”

Canada and the Wallaroos will meet at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday, May 23 at 7:55 (BST).

Canada

15 Julia Schell (Ealing Trailfinders)
14 Alysha Corrigan (Saracens)
13 Florence Symonds (University of British Columbia)
12 Alexandra Tessier (Exeter Chiefs) - captain
11 Krissy Scurfield Loughborough Lightning)
10 Claire Gallagher (Leicester Tigers)
9 Olivia Apps (Lindsay RFC)
1 McKinley Hunt (Saracens)
2 Gillian Boag (Gloucester-Hartpury)
3 DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs)
4 Courtney O'Donnell (Red Deer Titans Rugby)
5 Tyson Beukeboom (Ealing Trailfinders)
6 Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat)
7 Karen Paquin (Club de rugby de Quebec)
8 Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais)

Replacements:
16 Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs)
17 Mikiela Nelson (Exeter Chiefs)
18 Rori Wood (Ealing Trailfinders)
19 Julia Omokhuale (Leicester Tigers)
20 Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers)
21 Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais)
22 Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Chiefs Manawa)
23 Asia Hogan-Rochester (Westshore RFC)