Canada will face neighbours USA, Australia and world champions New Zealand in Test matches as part of their build up to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014, which takes place in France from 1-17 August.
The Can-Am series against the Women’s Eagles in April will be the first time that Canada’s women have played on home soil since 2011 and will provide an important opportunity to showcase women’s rugby to their compatriots.

Canada will play USA first at Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia on 15 April before making their debut at the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford four days later. 

While it will be the Fifteens’ team’s debut there, for some players that are part of Canada’s Sevens team they live and train daily out of the Centre of Excellence and the Pacific Institute for Sporting Excellence. 

Captain Kelly Russell is one of those players based at the Centre of Excellence.

“We owe Shawnigan Lake School, PISE and Langford a huge thanks for everything they have provided and their support for Rugby Canada. We are building up to the World Cup and we couldn’t do it without the facilities that are provided for us,” said Russell.

The Canadians will travel to New Zealand in June to face Australia once and then back-to-back matches with the Black Ferns, who will be looking to win a fifth successive Women’s Rugby World Cup crown in France.

Canada have not played Australia in a Test before and their last meeting with New Zealand was a sobering encounter, a 66-7 loss at Women's Rugby World Cup 2006 on Canadian soil.

“2014 is a busy and exciting year for Rugby Canada’s women’s Fifteens team and we’re looking forward to the competition that the USA will bring and the opportunity to play in Canada,” added Canada coach Francois Ratier.  

Canada will face England, Samoa and Spain in Pool A of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 and will be looking to build on their sixth place finish in the 2010 edition in England.

Canada Women’s matches in build-up to WRWC 2014

15 April – Canada v USA @ Shawnigan Lake School, BC – KO 15:30 PT

19 April – Canada v USA @ Westhills Stadium, Langford, BC

6 June – Canada v Australia in New Zealand

10 June – New Zealand v Canada in New Zealand

14 June – New Zealand v Canada in New Zealand