The emerging face of Canadian women’s rugby is basking in the place where it all began. Sophie De Goede of Victoria will captain Canada in the 2022 World Cup from Oct. 8 to Nov. 12 in New Zealand and will lead the national side into its pre-World Cup Test match against No. 6 Italy on Sunday at 3 p.m. Starlight Stadium in Langford.
It is the first of two World Cup preparatory Tests for No. 4-ranked Canada, considered a podium threat for the World Cup, with the other at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, N.S., on Aug. 27 against No. 9 Wales.
“Sophie De Goede is going to be the captain of Canada for years and years to come,” said Canadian head coach Kevin Rouet.
She is the newest incarnation of a well-established Island sporting family. Dad Hans De Goede came out of Vic High and James Bay Athletic Association to be named twice to the all-world XV and captained Canada in the first men’s World Cup in 1987. Mom Stephanie White captained Canada in the first women’s World Cup and played in two more World Cups. Brother Thyssen De Goede was capped for Canada in XVs and played in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games in sevens. Uncle John de Goede played U Sports basketball for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and uncle Jim de Goede was the goalkeeper for the B.C. and Canadian champion Vic West soccer dynasty of the 1970s and 1980s.
“It’s so cool for me to be home for the first time in five years and I’m so excited to be playing in front of my parents, brothers, aunts, uncles and friends on Sunday,” said Sophie De Goede.
The rising star out of Oak Bay Secondary has been away playing pro rugby in England for the Saracens while also completing her U Sports career at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., as a dual rugby and basketball standout, who was named the most outstanding 2021-22 women’s U Sports athlete of the season. She also played both sports at Oak Bay and the decision to prioritize rugby wasn’t quite so certain.
“It was special to win the U Sports top-athlete award, and there was some doubt for me between the two sports at both Oak Bay and Queen’s, but rugby took off for me and I’m confident in that choice,” De Goede said after a Canada training session Wednesday at Starlight Stadium.
“But anytime anybody wants to play pick-up hoops, I’m there.”
It’s the rugby pitch, however, that now beckons. De Goede was also a rugby sevens star, and had targeted that Olympic version of the sport, but decided in the end that traditional XVs was the best fit for her style of play. So much so that she has been named captain of Team Canada at the age of 23.
“It’s a shared role and the veterans have welcomed me into the role to make the transition smooth,” said De Goede.
Added Canada bench-boss Rouet: “Sophie has former captains, who are still on the team, helping her be the best captain.”
The Test against Italy will be a good pre-World Cup measuring stick against a world top-six national side.
“Italy trains in a pro environment and is moving up in the world,” said De Goede.
“We have to realize we don’t have to score in the first phase every time, and be patient, and build our phases. And our defence needs to be aggressive.”
The World Cup was scheduled for 2021 but postponed a year due to the pandemic.
“It was disappointing at first. But in sports when something negative happens, you re-frame, and that’s what we did.”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
