香蕉视频直播

Skip to content

Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 rugby pipeline shines as Canada preps for women's World Cup

Oak Bay grads and UVic alumni combine to lift Canada in South Africa exhibition opener
250707-vne-rugby
Caroline Crossley powers through to score her first international 15s try during Canada香蕉视频直播檚 50-20 victory over South Africa in Pretoria.

Canada香蕉视频直播檚 national women香蕉视频直播檚 rugby team is building toward a World Cup run this summer 香蕉视频直播 and they香蕉视频直播檙e doing it with a powerful engine from Victoria.

The red-and-white opened their two-match tour of South Africa with a statement win on Saturday, thumping the Springbok women 50-20 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

Among the try-scorers? Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 own Caroline Crossley, who capped off a gutsy performance with her first-ever 15s international try 香蕉视频直播 while barely able to stand.

香蕉视频直播淚 was cramping insanely in my calves 香蕉视频直播 my legs were just failing me,香蕉视频直播 Crossley laughed. 香蕉视频直播淲e had no subs left, so I just tried to be a body out there. Then that happened.香蕉视频直播

She covered roughly 40 metres for the score in the final play of the game.

"Thank goodness it was the last play 香蕉视频直播 I would香蕉视频直播檝e been done otherwise,香蕉视频直播 she told Victoria News. 

That kind of perseverance is what Crossley and a host of Vancouver Island teammates are hoping to bottle as Canada continues its World Cup build-up.

Crossley, an Oak Bay High graduate, is one of 10 players on this tour with strong Victoria ties. Another is fellow Oak Bay alum and team captain Sophie de Goede, who is getting back to action after an ACL injury sidelined her last year.

They香蕉视频直播檙e joined by Pamphinette Buisa, Gabrielle Senft, Carissa Norsten, Krissy Scurfield, Fancy Bermudez, Rori Wood, Alysha Corrigan and Olivia Apps. Many play out of Westshore RFC or the Castaway Wanderers, and several honed their craft with the UVic Vikes.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a really strong grassroots presence in Victoria,香蕉视频直播 Crossley said. 香蕉视频直播淭he clubs, the volunteers, the coaches 香蕉视频直播 there香蕉视频直播檚 so many people who pour into the sport and help grow it. That香蕉视频直播檚 where the strength starts.香蕉视频直播

Even for players from outside the region, Victoria still feels like home. Langford's Starlight Stadium houses Rugby Canada香蕉视频直播檚 main training centre, which means many on the squad have spent years there together.

香蕉视频直播淭hose connections help a lot,香蕉视频直播 Crossley said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 shared memories, shared struggles, and it just makes the team that much tighter.香蕉视频直播

Canada 香蕉视频直播 currently ranked second in the world 香蕉视频直播 will face South Africa again on July 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

With the World Cup kicking off Aug. 22 in England, these exhibition matches are more than just tune-ups. 

香蕉视频直播淭his tour has been a great opportunity to perform and build,香蕉视频直播 Crossley said. 香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 always have a ton of time together as a team, so to have this stretch to develop our systems and chemistry has been huge.香蕉视频直播

Despite the lopsided score in Game 1, Crossley expects a tougher battle in the rematch.

香蕉视频直播淪outh Africa香蕉视频直播檚 a very physical team 香蕉视频直播 they香蕉视频直播檝e got a powerful forward pack and we struggled early in the scrums and mauls,香蕉视频直播 she said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut we corrected a lot throughout the match. Game 2 will be a test.香蕉视频直播

After South Africa, the squad will return home for a short break before reconvening in Ottawa for a pre-World Cup fixture against the United States, on Aug. 1 followed by another against Ireland on Aug. 9. 

At the World Cup, Canada is grouped with Scotland, Wales and Fiji. 

But the focus remains on the moment.

香蕉视频直播淥ur goal is to win the World Cup,香蕉视频直播 said Crossley. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it starts with the next game. One at a time.香蕉视频直播



Tony Trozzo

About the Author: Tony Trozzo

Multimedia journalist with the Greater Victoria news team, specializing in sports coverage.
Read more