Young Canadian women’s rugby team faces tough challenge in world No. 2 England
Captain Laura Russell leads a green starting 15, featuring nine players making their test debut or first start, when Canada takes on second-ranked England on Friday in the first of a three-match women’s rugby series.
Another eight uncapped Canadians await on the bench
While Canada is currently ranked fourth in the world, Saturday’s lineup features just seven members of the squad that finished fifth at this summer’s World Cup. Several veterans are taking a break from the sport or have retired. Karen Paquin is trying her hand at bobsled.
That has left interim coach Sandro Fiorino with a young pool to pick from for the November tour. The average age of his team is 22.