Canadian forward Sophie de Goede nominated for Women’s World Rugby Player of the Year

Canadian forward Sophie de Goede, who has been an impact player at the Women’s World Cup in her return from knee surgery, is a finalist for World Rugby’s Women’s Player of the Year.

The 26-year-old forward from Victoria is up against England’s Megan Jones and New Zealand’s Jorja Miller.

The Canadian vice-captain was also nominated for the award in 2022. Canada captain Alex Tessier was a nominee last year.

Going into Saturday’s final against top-ranked England, de Goede leads the Women’s World Cup in carries, offloads and lineout takes. 

De Goede, who doubles as goal-kicker, has also scored 55 points for second-ranked Canada.

With six conversions in Canada’s 42-0 win over No. 12 Wales in Pool B play Aug. 30, de Goede became the all-time leading scorer in Canadian women’s rugby history with 262 points.

She has since added six points (three conversions) in the final 40-19 group game win over No. 6 Scotland, 13 points (one try, four conversions) in the 46-5 quarterfinal win over No. 7 Australia and 14 points (a try, three conversions and a penalty goal) in the 34-19 semifinal win over No. 3 New Zealand.

The performances are all the more impressive given de Goede only returned to action in July after being sidelined for 13 months following knee surgery.

De Goede tore her anterior cruciate ligament on June 21, 2024, in a non-contact scrimmage against the United States on the last day of a Canada sevens camp in Chula Vista, Calif. Prior to making her return in a 22-minute cameo off the bench July 12 against South Africa, her last game was May 19, 2024, when Canada defeated defending World Cup champion New Zealand 22-19 in the Pacific Four Series finale.

Miller is also nominated for Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, along with New Zealand teammate Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Fiji’s Josifini Neihamu.

De Goede, who plays her club rugby for England’s Saracens, is normally a backrower but has shifted to lock at the World Cup because Canada’ has more options in the back row than the second row.

A powerful forward, the six-footer is an effective ball-carrier and punishing tackler. The statistics demonstrate her dominance at the World Cup.

She led Canada in carries (17) and successful tackles (19) against New Zealand. And going into the semifinal, de Goede had recorded more carries (67), offloads (11) and lineout takes (26, including two steals) than any other player at the tournament. She was also the top try assister among forwards (four).

At Saracens, she plays alongside fellow Canadians Alysha Corrigan, Fancy Bermudez, Gabby Senft, Laetitia Royer, Maya Montiel, McKinley Hunt, Julie Omokhuale and Paige Farries.

De Goede, who played both rugby and basketball at Queen’s University, comes from Canadian rugby royalty.

Father Hans de Goede, who captained Canada at the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup, was a force to be reckoned with — a hard man who picked up some extra cash in “So You Think You’re Tough?” boxing tournaments.

De Goede’s mother, Stephanie White, was the first Canadian women’s captain in 1987 and represented Canada for 10 years.

Sophie’s older brother Thyssen has also represented Canada.

“I think a lot of kids maybe would come home to cartoons or hockey or something on the TV. I’m really lucky that I would come home to international test matches that had been taped and were ready to watch,” Sophie told The Canadian Press in a 2022 interview. “We were at the James Bay (Athletic Association) clubhouse every weekend growing up. I played mini (rugby) at the Castaways club. So it was always rugby on the weekend and often rugby on the weeknights.

“If we didn’t want to go to rugby, I was definitely not forced to. But just growing up with it I kind of fell in love with it.” 

Sophie de Goede captained Canada prior to her injury, with Tessier taking over while she was sidelined. Canada coach Kevin Rouet opted to retain Tessier as skipper upon de Goede’s return to allow de Goede to focus on her game.

But she and veteran Tyson Beukeboom serve as vice-captains, providing leadership in the forwards.

The nominees for both World Rugby awards were selected by a panel of former players and experts — Fiona Coghlan, Lena Corson, Abby Gustaitis, Shannon Parry, Melodie Robinson, Danielle Waterman and Canadian Heather Moyse.

The award winners — including top coach, referee, 15s Dream Team of the Year and Women’s Try of the Year — will be announced next weekend at the World Cup final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in England.

Canada’s Rouet is expected to be a contender for Coach of the Year.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2025.