Canada women's national rugby union team facts for kids
 |
|||
| Nicknames | Canucks Maple Leafs |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Rugby Canada | ||
| Head coach | Kévin Rouet | ||
| Captain | Alex Tessier | ||
|
|||
| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 2 (as of 28 October 2024) | ||
| Highest | 2 (2024) | ||
| First international | |||
 Canada 3–22 United States  (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; 14 November 1987) |
|||
| Biggest win | |||
Canada 98–0 Hong Kong  (Dublin, Ireland; 9 August 2017) |
|||
| Biggest defeat | |||
Canada 3–88 New Zealand  (Edmonton, Canada; 8 September 1996) |
|||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 9 (First in 1991) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up, 2014, 2025 | ||
| Website | rugby.ca/en | ||
The Canada women's national rugby union team represents Canada in exciting international rugby union games. They are known as the Canucks or Maple Leafs. This team is managed by Rugby Canada, which is the main group for rugby in Canada. They are currently ranked among the top teams in the world!
Contents
About the Team
How it All Started
The Canadian women's rugby program began in the 1980s. Their very first international match was played in 1987 in Victoria, British Columbia. They played against the United States. This was a special game because it was the first women's international rugby match ever played outside of Europe!
In 1991, Canada took part in the first-ever Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales. The team did great, finishing in fifth place. They won the Plate final by beating Spain 19–4. Canada has proudly played in every single World Cup since 1991.
Playing in the World Cup
The Women's Rugby World Cup is the biggest competition for women's rugby teams around the globe. Canada has shown amazing skill and teamwork in these tournaments.
One of their best performances was at the 2014 Rugby World Cup. They reached the final game! In the final, they played against England. Even though they lost 21–9, finishing as runners-up was a huge achievement.
More recently, at the 2021 Rugby World Cup (which was played in 2022), Canada finished in fourth place. They played against France in the match for third place. Canada also achieved the runner-up position in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Canada plays against many different countries in international matches. These include teams like Australia, England, France, New Zealand, and the United States.
Template:Canada Women's Rugby World Cup record
Amazing Players and Awards
Many talented athletes have played for the Canadian women's rugby team. Some have even received special recognition for their skills.
Inspiring Athletes
- Heather Moyse is a true Canadian sports hero! In 2016, she became the first Canadian woman to be included in the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Heather is amazing because she has represented Canada in three different sports: rugby, cycling, and bobsleigh. She even won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014 for bobsleigh! In rugby, she played 22 international matches and competed in two Women's Rugby World Cups. She also helped Canada get second place at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Top Awards
Some Canadian players have been honored at the World Rugby Awards. These awards celebrate the best rugby players in the world.
- In 2014, Magali Harvey was named the World Rugby Player of the Year. This is a huge award for a rugby player!
- Other Canadian players like Sophie de Goede and Alex Tessier have also been nominated for this top award.
- Several Canadian players have been chosen for the World Rugby Dream Team of the Year. This means they were considered among the best players in their positions globally. Players like Karen Paquin, Emily Tuttosi, Sophie de Goede, Laetitia Royer, and Alex Tessier have all been part of this special team.
Team Achievements
The Canadian women's rugby team has won many important competitions and honors:
- Women's Rugby World Cup
- Runners-up (2): 2014, 2025
- WXV 1
- Runners-up (1): 2023
- Pacific Four Series
- Champions (2): 2021, 2024
- Runners-up (2): 2022, 2023
- Women's Super Series
- Champions (1): 2016
- Women's Nations Cup
- Champions (1): 2013
- Runners-up (2): 2008, 2011
Cheering for Canada
Many fans come out to support the Canadian women's rugby team! Here are some of their most attended matches played in Canada:
| Rank | Attendance | Opponent | Date | Venue | Location | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11,453 | United States |
1 August 2025 | TD Place Stadium | Ottawa | |
| 2 | 10,092 | New Zealand |
10 July 2023 | TD Place Stadium | Ottawa |
See also
In Spanish: Selección femenina de rugby de Canadá para niños
