One win away from Rugby World Cup final, Canadian women take on New Zealand

Shania Twain is onboard. So are the Tragically Hip.

Second-ranked Canada has added some star power en route to Friday’s semifinal showdown with the defending champion New Zealand Black Ferns at the Rugby World Cup in England.

Twain showed her support in a social media post earlier this week, complete with flex and heart emojis, saying “I’ll be cheering for you all on Friday!! Let’s go girls!”

“All of them in the (team) bus were so pumped about that,” said coach Kevin Rouet.

“It was huge, I think it made everybody’s day,” said captain Alex Tessier. “It made everybody giggle and happy.”

“To have an icon like this behind us, behind women’s rugby, behind the Canadian women’s rugby team, it’s quite exciting and cool,” she added.

Plus Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” is one of the Canadian team’s pre-game songs.

The Tragically Hip have lent their name to both a limited-edition T-shirt and rugby jersey, with proceeds going to Rugby Canada’s “Mission: Win Rugby World Cup” fundraising campaign.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Tessier. “I think a lot of girls on the team were pretty excited when they found (out) the news that this band was interested in us. It’s a bit heartwarming, I guess, (that) a group like that wants to help us and get on board in our journey.” 

The T-shirt sold out in under 12 hours while the jersey went on sale Tuesday.

Rouet has named an unchanged side to face third-ranked New Zealand at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol. No. 1 England and No. 4 France face off at the same venue in the second semifinal Saturday.

Canada is unbeaten in its last two matches with New Zealand, which had won all 17 previous meetings with 10 of those victories by 27 points or more.

“The energy is positive. The belief is there,” said Rouet. “But we are very mindful that New Zealand at World Cup time is an excellent team also and they show up when it’s the time.”

The Canadians ended their losing streak with a 22-19 win in Christchurch in May 2024 in Pacific Four Series play.

The milestone win in securing the Pacific Four Series title moved the Canadian women to No. 2 in the world rankings behind England, replacing New Zealand and equalling their highest-ever position (last reached in November 2016). Canada had started the tournament at No. 4, but moved past France into No. 3 after beating Australia 33-14.

Canada and New Zealand drew 27-27 when they met in Pacific Four Series play in Christchurch in May this year, with the Black Ferns drawing even on an 83rd-minute try by Sylvia Brunt after Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s 76th-minute try had given the Canadians a 27-22 lead.

New Zealand went on to win the Pacific Four Series title on points difference over Canada.

Veteran flanker Karen Paquin, who leads the team with 57 tackles at the tournament, will earn her 50th cap for Canada. The 38-year-old from Quebec City is playing in her fourth World Cup.

Prop DaLeaka Menin will earn her 68th cap to move into second place on Canada’s all-time cap list for women behind lock Tyson Beukeboom (82 ahead of Friday). 

Canada downed No. 7 Australia (46-5) in the quarterfinals after topping Pool B by defeating No. 13 Fiji (65-7), No. 12 Wales (42-0) and No. 6 Scotland (40-19).

New Zealand reached the semifinals after beating No. 10 South Africa (46-7) in the quarterfinals and topping Pool C with wins over No. 14 Spain (54-8), No. 11 Japan (62-19) and No. 5 Ireland (40-0).

The Canadian starting 15 goes into Friday’s match with a combined 553 caps and another 338 waiting on the bench. In contrast, the Black Ferns starters have a combined 403 caps with 160 more among the replacements.

Tanya Kalounivale slots in at tighthead prop for New Zealand with co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu starting at openside flanker for the injured Joirja Miller. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane starts at scrum half with Brunt coming in on the wing.

New Zealand fly half Ruahei Demant is set to earn her 50th cap, looking to add to a 42-6-1 record (including 3-1-1 against Canada).

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Canada 

McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Sophie de Goede, Victoria, Saracens (England); Courtney O’Donnell, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England); Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Westshore RFC; Alex Tessier (capt.), Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Florence Symonds, Vancouver, UBC; Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England).

Replacements

Gillian Boag, Calgary, Capilano RFC; Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Olivia DeMerchant, Mapledale, N.B., Halifax Tars RFC; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., Saracens (England); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand).

New Zealand

Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-capt.), Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, Ruahei Demant (co-capt,), Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Stacey Waaka, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Renee Holmes.

Replacements 

Atlanta Lolohea, Kate Henwood, Amy Rule, Chelsea Bremner, Layla Sae, Maia Joseph, Theresa Setefano, Ayesha Leti-I’iga.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2025.