Captain Sophie de Goede rejoins Canada rugby team after yearlong injury layoff

Captain Sophie de Goede, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament a year ago, will rejoin the Canada women's rugby team ahead of the team's upcoming tour to South Africa.
Despite the injury, the 25-year-old backrower from Victoria was named to World Rugby's Women's 15s Dream Team of 2024, along with fellow Canadians Claire Tessier and Laetitia Royer.
De Goede's return is timely with the second-ranked Canadian women preparing for the Rugby World Cup, which runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 27 in England.
Canada coach Kevin Rouet has invited de Goede and 37 other players to a training camp that runs Friday through June 27 in Perth, Ont. Thirty-two will then be chosen for the trip to South Africa and games against the 12th-ranked Springbok women on July 5 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria and July 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Madison Grant, Paige Farries and Pamphinette Buisa also return from injury, while Carissa Norsten, the 2024 HSBC SVNS Women's Rookie of the Year and a member of Canada's silver-medal squad at the Paris Olympics, earns her first call-up to the senior 15s.
The training camp roster includes 33 members of the squad that came second at the Pacific Four Series in May after wins over the ninth-ranked U.S. (26-14) and No. 6 Australia (45-7) and a 27-27 tie with No. 3 New Zealand.
The Canadians, who won the Pacific Four Series last year with their first-ever win over New Zealand, finished runner-up to the Black Ferns this year on points differential.
'We are looking forward to reconvening as a group after a short break following the Pacific Four Series,' Rouet said in a statement. 'This training camp and the matches against South Africa are important components in our on- and off-field preparation for the Rugby World Cup.
'We will continue to refine our gameplay as we spend some valuable training hours together.'
Canada will face No. 7 Scotland, No. 10 Wales and No. 15 Fiji in Group B play at the World Cup.
After the South Africa tour, Canada plays the U.S. on Aug. 1 in Ottawa and No. 5 Ireland on Aug. 9 in Dublin. The Canadian women open the World Cup against Fiji on Aug. 23 in York.
The Canadian women have finished fourth four times at the World Cup, most recently in 2022. Canada was runner-up to England in 2014.
Canada is 12-5-1 since the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to New Zealand.
Canada Training Camp Roster
Forwards
Alysia Comtois, Magog, Que., University of Ottawa; Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Cassandra Tuffnail, Heidelberg, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Courtney O'Donnell, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Holly Phillips, Canmore, Alta., Bristol Bears (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt. King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Mikiela Nelson, North Vancouver, Exeter Chiefs (England); Olivia DeMerchant, Mapledale, N.B., Halifax Tars RFC; Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rachel Smith, South Surrey, B.C., UBC; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Sophie de Goede, Victoria, Saracens (England); Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England).
Backs
AlexTessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Westshore RFC; Carissa Norsten, Waldheim, Sask., University of Victoria; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Florence Symonds, Vancouver, UBC; Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Krissy Scurfield, Canmore, Alta., Loughborough Lightning (England).
—-
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

24 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Man Utd interested in Liverpool midfielder Nagano

Fuka Nagano was part of Japan's squad at the 2023 Women's World Cup [Getty Images] Manchester United are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano on a free transfer this summer. The 26-year-old's contract runs out at Liverpool at the end of June and she is yet to agree an extension despite having offers on the table for several months. Advertisement Sources at Liverpool suggested in May they were hopeful Nagano would renew her contract but United's interest could complicate matters. Nagano joined Liverpool in January 2023 and quickly established herself as a regular starter in the team. The midfielder could link-up with fellow Japanese international Hinata Miyazawa if United are successful in their pursuit.

Fox Sports

34 minutes ago

• Fox Sports

Chris Richards Wants His Gold Cup Heroics To Lead the U.S. At '26 World Cup

AUSTIN, Texas – At the final whistle, Chris Richards dropped to the turf on one knee, looked up at the sky, crossed his chest and said a quick prayer. The U.S. men's national team had just beaten Saudi Arabia 1-0 to clinch its second straight Gold Cup victory, and he was relieved. On a hot and sticky evening at Q2 Stadium, when the front line couldn't find the back of the net, it was Richards who stepped up and not only saved a goal in the first half, but scored the winning one in the second. The result means the USMNT will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, despite still having one more group stage match against Haiti on Sunday (7 p.m. ET on FOX). Richards, 25, is one of the more experienced players for the USMNT with 27 caps. The 6-foot-1 stalwart defender made 32 appearances across all competitions for Crystal Palace in England this season and helped his club win the FA Cup in May. He would likely have been a starting center back alongside Tim Ream at the 2022 World Cup had a hamstring tear not ruled him out. While not being part of that group in Qatar was tough for Richards, he's grown for both club and country since, and has proven to be a clear and steady leader for an otherwise young squad this summer. "He is the type of player who can be a leader and step up for the team with his performance," U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino said. "I'm so happy for him because he's a really great guy, and I think this season with Crystal Palace was fantastic for him, and now he's trying to translate all his experience to this team. "But most important is that he's so humble. And that is what I like the most. When he arrives [in camp], he's always very open to learn, to talk." That's because Richards understands the position he's in. Ream, who leads the team with 71 caps and has been wearing the captain's armband, will be 38 years old at the 2026 World Cup. He won't play forever and when that time comes, Richards wants to be ready to assume that role. "Nobody told me that I need to make those types of plays, but I'm my harshest critic and so, for me personally, I want to kind of be the leader for this team," Richards said. "I think there's no secret that Tim is getting a little older and at some point, he has to let go of the reign. So hopefully I can be the guy to step into that spot. I've learned a lot from him over the last few years." Saudi Arabia made things difficult for the USMNT to get shots in the first half – by halftime, the U.S. had only mustered two with one on goal. In the 31st minute, Abdulrahman Al-Obud beat Alex Freeman and found himself alone on the left wing in perfect position to score. He got a quality shot off, and it likely would have gone in if not for Richards tracking back and sliding in for a massive block. "That is what we want and that is what we expect because he has the quality," Pochettino said. "When you create the platform that the players feel confident and feel the power and the energy, we start to play like a team. "In previous games in previous months, maybe it was difficult to find an action like this. But now it's because the spirit of the group forces you to do something heroic. It's what we want to keep [doing] until the World Cup." Pochettino made a few tactical adjustments in the second half, like moving Freeman a bit higher to create more of a three-back back line instead of the usual four, and sliding Sebastian Berhalter deeper. In the 56th minute, Richards was in position to get a close-range header off a Jack McGlynn corner kick, but it went right into goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi's chest. "The afro kind of stopped it a little bit," Richards said, laughing. "Pros and cons of the afro." Moments later, after Pochettino made his first substitutions of the night to get Tyler Adams and Damion Downs into the game, Richards got another chance. In the 63rd minute, Berhalter's free-kick service was on point and Richards finished it to give the U.S. a 1-0 edge. It was his second international goal for the USMNT. Richards said later that he and Berhalter had been working on set pieces all week. "As soon as I saw it there, I thought, 'This has to be me,'" Richards said. Chris Richards scored off a set piece to give the United State a 1-0 lead over Saudi Arabia. After the goal, Saudi Arabia picked up the pace, desperate to tie it up in order to clinch their spot in the knockout round. But the U.S. showed maturity and held off their opponent for another 25 minutes. While Pochettino and his players acknowledged the overall performance could have been better, it was important to get another win to build belief and confidence within the group. Especially considering how the U.S. entered this tournament – on a four-game skid with drama surrounding the team. "I said it when we were obviously on the losing streak, and it doesn't feel good to all the boys: You just have to continue to trust the process, even when things don't feel perfect," Adams said. "[Pochettino] even said in the locker room after the game, 'Enjoy that feeling, understand what that feeling is like and what you just had to do and put all that emotion out on the field because it doesn't come easy." Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . The "FOX Soccer" crew including Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas provided a recap of recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Fox Sports

44 minutes ago

• Fox Sports

U.S. Players With the Most to Gain in the Gold Cup

The 26 players representing the United States at the Gold Cup this summer aren't just competing for the highest honor in Concacaf — they're making a case for a spot on Mauricio Pochettino's roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil next summer. With a handful of U.S. regulars absent for this tournament, opportunity knocks for players across practically every position. Here are the ones with the most to gain as the U.S. enters the knockout stage of the tournament: If you had asked Tim Ream a year or two ago if he'd still be on the team in 2026, not a chance. And yet, this is where we stand today. Diego Luna brings a ton of personality to the team. He's not just talented, but he's kind of this encapsulation of what Mauricio Pochettino wants and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he's involved next summer. There is a competition when it comes to the goalkeepers is in it. The U.S. have not conceded a goal in the last two matches after conceding six goals in the previous two. Serigno Dest is going to be the start on that right hand side, but what if he's not ready like he wasn't this summer? It's going to be interesting to see how Freeman stacks up against Joe Scally and the others. The striker position is an evergreen problem for this team. They do not have somebody up to that they can go to on a consistent basis to put the ball in the net. Can you imagine if Patrick Agyemang is the starter for the U.S. at the World Cup in 2026? Anything can happen. recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more