Canada鈥檚 national women鈥檚 rugby team is building toward a World Cup run this summer 鈥� and they鈥檙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鈥檚 own Caroline Crossley, who capped off a gutsy performance with her first-ever 15s international try 鈥� while barely able to stand.
鈥淚 was cramping insanely in my calves 鈥� my legs were just failing me,鈥� Crossley laughed. 鈥淲e had no subs left, so I just tried to be a body out there. Then that happened.鈥�
She covered roughly 40 metres for the score in the final play of the game.
"Thank goodness it was the last play 鈥� I would鈥檝e been done otherwise,鈥� she told Victoria 亚洲天堂.
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鈥檙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.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a really strong grassroots presence in Victoria,鈥� Crossley said. 鈥淭he clubs, the volunteers, the coaches 鈥� there鈥檚 so many people who pour into the sport and help grow it. That鈥檚 where the strength starts.鈥�
Even for players from outside the region, Victoria still feels like home. Langford's Starlight Stadium houses Rugby Canada鈥檚 main training centre, which means many on the squad have spent years there together.
鈥淭hose connections help a lot,鈥� Crossley said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 shared memories, shared struggles, and it just makes the team that much tighter.鈥�
Canada 鈥� currently ranked second in the world 鈥� 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.
鈥淭his tour has been a great opportunity to perform and build,鈥� Crossley said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 always have a ton of time together as a team, so to have this stretch to develop our systems and chemistry has been huge.鈥�
Despite the lopsided score in Game 1, Crossley expects a tougher battle in the rematch.
鈥淪outh Africa鈥檚 a very physical team 鈥� they鈥檝e got a powerful forward pack and we struggled early in the scrums and mauls,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we corrected a lot throughout the match. Game 2 will be a test.鈥�
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.
鈥淥ur goal is to win the World Cup,鈥� said Crossley. 鈥淏ut it starts with the next game. One at a time.鈥�
