Sophie de Goede follows parents' footsteps captaining Canada
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Sophie de Goede follows in her parents' footsteps by captaining Canada in a Rugby World Cup.
She has been named at no.8 by coach Kevin Rouet for Canada's opening Rugby World Cup 2021 Pool B match against Japan at Northland Events Centre on 9 October.
De Goede's mother Stephanie White was the first Canadian women’s captain in 1987 and led them in two matches at the first women's Rugby World Cup, while her father, Hans de Goede, played 13 years for Canada and captained them at the inaugural Rugby World Cup 1987.
Canada will become the first nation to play 40 matches in women's Rugby World Cup history. They are one of only four teams to play in every women's tournament, along with England, France and the USA.
Their first match of RWC 2021 will also be Canada's 150th women's test match. Seven players in the starting line-up played at Rugby World Cup 2017 in Brittany Kassil, DaLeaka Menin, Tyson Beukeboom, Karen Paquin, Brianna Miller, Alex Tessier and Elissa Alarie.
The experienced trio of second-row Tyson Beukeboom, flanker Karen Paquin and full-back Elissa Alarie will play in their third Rugby World Cup, having also been part of the Canada squad that finished runners-up to France in 2014.
Sunday's #RWC2021 lineups 📜
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🇯🇵 @JRFURugby 🆚 @RugbyCanada 🇨🇦
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— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) October 7, 2022
Canada's team to face Japan.
1. Brittany Kassil
2. Emily Tuttosi
3. DaLeaka Menin
4. Courtney Holtkamp
5. Tyson Beukeboom
6. Fabiola Forteza
7. Karen Paquin
8. Sophie de Goede
9. Brianna Miller
10. Taylor Perry
11. Paige Farries
12. Alex Tessier
13. Sara Kaljuvee
14. Maddy Grant
15. Elissa Alarie
16. Gilian Boag
17. Mikiela Nelson
18. Alexandria Ellis
19. Ngalula Fuamba
20. Emma Taylor
21. Gabrielle Senft
22. Justine Pelletier
23. Julia Schell
