April 17, 2026 (Kansas City, Missouri) –\u00a0For a second straight week, weather disrupted match day for Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s Rugby Team. Severe weather and tornado warnings in Kansas City, Missouri\u00a0delayed their second match of the 2026 Pacific Four Series against the New Zealand Black Ferns\u00a0by\u00a0nearly three\u00a0hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the rematch of the 2025 Rugby World Cup semifinal finally got underway at CPKC Stadium, the rain had stopped, but both teams were still forced to contend with high winds and a slick\u00a0field. Despite leading 14\u20135 after the opening 40 minutes, Canada\u00a0ultimately fell\u00a0to New Zealand by a final score of 36\u201314. The Black Ferns\u2019 victory means they will overtake Canada in the World Rugby rankings for second place, pushing Canada down to third.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0didn\u2019t show our best product today and that\u2019s on us,\u201d said Kevin Rouet, Head Coach of Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s Rugby Team.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0just came back together as a\u00a0team,\u00a0but we\u00a0have to\u00a0find our way. It was very individual on the pitch today;\u00a0we\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0connected enough. We\u00a0just need more time together as a team\u00a0to practice together and play\u00a0together.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
First Half\u00a0\u00a0
Canada and New Zealand began scoreless through the first 10 minutes as both sides exchanged possession amid penalties and handling errors\u00a0while\u00a0adjusting to\u00a0windy conditions following a heavy bout of rain before the game\u00a0kicked off.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s\u00a0first quality scoring\u00a0chance came in the 11th minute, but strong defensive pressure from\u00a0Canada\u2019s Asia\u00a0Hogan-Rochester forced a missed pass to an unmarked\u00a0Black Ferns\u00a0winger. Canada relied on captain Alex Tessier\u2019s\u00a0boot\u00a0to relieve pressure\u00a0early on, while their defense held firm through sustained New Zealand attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Canada opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Julia\u00a0Omokhuale\u00a0blocked a kick deep in New Zealand territory. Quick\u00a0ball movement out\u00a0to the wing allowed Hogan-Rochester to finish, with\u00a0Claire\u00a0Gallagher converting from a difficult angle for a 7\u20130 lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following a yellow card to\u00a0Brittany\u00a0Kassil\u00a0in the 27th minute, New Zealand responded with a try out wide,\u00a0but a\u00a0missed conversion left Canada ahead 7\u20135.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Late in the half, a 50\u201322 kick from Gallagher set up an attacking lineout\u00a0for Canada. After repeated infringements by New Zealand at the\u00a0maul, a penalty try was awarded, extending Canada\u2019s\u00a0lead\u00a0to 14-5\u00a0heading into halftime.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Second Half\u00a0
New Zealand began the second half with a yellow card, but Canada was unable to capitalize. A promising break created by Tessier put\u00a0Omokhuale\u00a0into space, though she was brought down just short of the try line, and possession was later turned over, leaving the score at 14\u20135.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u00a0responded in the 53rd minute with\u00a0their second try, narrowing the deficit to 14\u201310 after another missed conversion. Momentum continued to shift in the 60th minute when Canada conceded a penalty in their own 22. A few phases later,\u00a0the Ferns\u00a0drove the ball over the line for their third score. Canada initially appeared to have held the ball up, but video review overturned the call and awarded the try. The successful conversion then gave New Zealand their first lead at 17\u201314.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Black Ferns\u00a0extended their advantage shortly after, capitalizing on a fortunate bounce to score again in the 63rd minute. Further pressure led to an interception try following a misplaced Canadian pass near their own line, pushing the score to 31\u201314.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A late try sealed the result, with New Zealand recording 31 unanswered second-half points to secure a 36\u201314 victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CANADA SCORING SUMMARY\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
Tries: Asia Hogan-Rochester (22\u2019), Penalty Try (39\u2019)\u00a0
Conversions: Claire Gallagher (1)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
A WORD FROM CAPTAIN ALEX TESSIER\u00a0\u00a0
\u201cWe didn\u2019t take care of it [the breakdown],\u201d said Tessier. \u201cAnd because we\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0take care of\u00a0it\u00a0the game got\u00a0more and more\u00a0chaotic around the ruck\u00a0and then they just kept applying pressure. Sadly,\u00a0we\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0able to reverse that pressure\u00a0and\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0on us.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0
\u201cComing in and starting\u00a0the game by installing our tempo and our rhythm was the idea. We did create some stuff and enter their 22-meter,\u00a0but we\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0convert points which made the first half harder than it should have. We did come out strong so\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0something we can build on.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
CANADIAN MILESTONES\u00a0
Caledon, Ontario\u2019s Lizzie Gibson earned her first international cap for Canada after coming off the bench in the second half. Asia Hogan-Rochester, making her 10th appearance in 15s\u00a0jersey\u00a0for Canada, scored her ninth international try.\u00a0Pamphinette\u00a0Buisa\u00a0also reached a milestone, earning her 20th cap while wearing the number 20 jersey.\u00a0
\u00a0
UP NEXT FOR\u00a0CANADA\u2019S WOMEN\u2019S RUGBY TEAM\u00a0
Canada vs USA\u00a0
Seat Geek Stadium \u2013 Chicago, Illinois\u00a0
Friday April 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT \/ 8:30 p.m. ET\u00a0
Watch live on TSN and TSN+\u00a0
\u00a0
CANADA\u2019S WOMEN\u2019S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS\u00a0NEW ZEALAND\u00a0\u00a0
1. Brittany\u00a0Kassil\u00a0(Guelph, ON) \u2013 Guelph Goats \/ Ontario West (54 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
2. Emily\u00a0Tuttosi\u00a0(Souris, MB) \u2013 Calgary Hornets \/ Exeter Chiefs (42 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
3.\u00a0DaLeaka\u00a0Menin (Vulcan, AB) \u2013 Calgary Hornets \/ Exeter Chiefs (70 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers \/ Saracens (42 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) \u2013 St-Anne-de-Bellevue \/ Concordia University \/ Saracens (23 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
6. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) \u2013 Castaway Wanderers \/ Saracens (41 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
7. Julia\u00a0Omokhuale\u00a0(Calgary, AB) \u2013 Calgary Irish Rugby Club \/ Saracens (7 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) \u2013 Club de rugby de Qu\u00e9bec \/ Stade Bordelais (42 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivi\u00e8re-du-Loup, QC) \u2013 Club de rugby de Qu\u00e9bec \/ Stade Bordelais (44 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (24 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
11. Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – University of Ottawa \/ Markham Irish \/ FC Grenoble\u00a0Amazones\u00a0(1 cap)\u00a0\u00a0
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) \u2013 Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC \/ Exeter Chiefs (66 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) \u2013 Counties Manukau (26 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
14. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads \/ Westshore RFC \/ Sharks (9 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
15. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) \u2013 Aurora Barbarians \/ Ealing Trailfinders (20 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0
FINISHERS\u00a0\u00a0
16. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – University of British Columbia \/ Toronto Scottish (1 cap)\u00a0\u00a0
17. Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) – Ealing Trailfinders \/ University of Ottawa (6 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
18. Cassandra\u00a0Tuffnail\u00a0(Heidelberg, ON) \u2013 Ealing Trailfinders (1 cap)\u00a0\u00a0
19. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) \u2013 University of British Columbia (5 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
20.\u00a0Pamphinette\u00a0Buisa\u00a0(Gatineau, QC) \u2013 Ottawa Irish \/ Bristol Bears (19 caps)\u00a0\u00a0
21. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) \u2013 Oakville Crusaders \/ Queen\u2019s University \/ Quebec East (Uncapped)\u00a0\u00a0
22. Corinne Frechette (Saint-Z\u00e9phirin-de-Courval, QC) \u2013 Club de rugby de Qu\u00e9bec \/ Universit\u00e9 Laval \/ Qu\u00e9bec East (1 cap)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
23. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians \/ Queen’s University \/ Bristol Bears (1 cap)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0
SUPPORT RUGBY CANADA\u00a0
Canadian rugby is on the rise, with record participation nationwide and major international success. Highlights include a silver medal at the 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup, qualification for the 2027 Men\u2019s Rugby World Cup, and Sophie de Goede being named World Rugby Women\u2019s Player of the Year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now is the time to build on this momentum. Rugby Canada is committed to inspiring the next generation while continuing to\u00a0represent\u00a0Canada on the global stage through its One Squad program, uniting all our national teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With the support of donors across the country, Rugby Canada provides world-class training, competition, and development opportunities. Contributions help strengthen our women\u2019s and men\u2019s national teams, support successful 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cup and 2028 Olympic campaigns, and grow the pipeline of future Canadian rugby players.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To donate, click\u00a0HERE<\/a>. For donations of $5,000+ or questions, contact us\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 17, 2026 (Kansas City, Missouri) –\u00a0For a second straight week, weather disrupted match day for Canada\u2019s Women\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":386128,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-386127","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-new-zealand","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=386127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/386128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=386127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=386127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=386127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}