Westshore RFC is hosting a viewing party for the Canada versus Wales women’s rugby Test, and rightfully so. Westshore has made a concerted effort to build its women’s program, carrying over from the club’s historic female success when it was known as Velox and located in Gordon Head, and the results are evident.
Five Westshore RFC players, including four starters, have been named for Canada’s Test match Sunday morning against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park (the all-fans-welcome viewing event is set for the live online feed at 9 a.m. PT at the Crooked Goose Bistro in Saanich. The game can we watched tape-delayed at 9:30 p.m. on TSN2).
Westshore RFC players starting for Canada will be Elissa Alarie, Emily Belchos de Goede, former University of Victoria Vikes star Paige Farries and Westshore and UVic player Gabrielle Senft. Renee Gonzalez, who plays club for Westshore and U Sports for UVic, will dress in reserve and be available off the bench.
“We’ve always recruited well across Canada,” said Amanda Thornborough, Westshore RFC director of women’s rugby.
“And we’ve had great success in retaining our high-performance players and have done well in the B.C. championships [winning seven B.C. Premiership titles over the past 13 years].”
Thornborough has been a big part of that success and still plays for the club following an international career in earning 30 caps for Canada. Thirty Velox/Westshore club players have earned caps for Canada.
“We have managed to keep the ball rolling with our latest group for Canada,” said Thornborough.
Also starting for Canada will be sevens Olympian Sara Kaljuvee of the UVic Vikes and Tyson Beukeboom of Cowichan RFC. Former UVic Vikes star and sevens Olympian Pamphinette Buisa will dress in reserve.
World No. 3 Canada has returned to play, following nearly two dark years due to COVID, with two Test victories over the U.S. and a 51-12 loss last weekend to top-ranked England before 6,310 fans at Twickenham Stoop in London.
“I am very proud of how our team has performed since returning to play,” Canada head coach Sandro Fiorino said in a statement.
“There have been many positives to take away, as well as a number of areas that have been identified for us to work on as we continue to develop as a group.”
Wales is ranked No. 6 in the world and beat South Africa in its last Test match. The national sides are preparing for the 2022 World Cup next fall in New Zealand, an event postponed from this year due to the pandemic.
“Wales have performed well in their two most recent matches,” said Fiorino. “They will provide us with another excellent opportunity to see where we are as a team against quality opposition, and get our players more key game time as we prepare for the World Cup.”
