Who will you be cheering on this Saturday?
BY AIMEE BUTLER, IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM (@LIVAPPS, @TYSBUTMOSTLYDYZON, @JULIASCHELL)
After a crushing defeat of Fiji in the weekend’s opening match of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, Canada is proving that their title of world number two is well and truly deserved.
While excelling in the game, Canada also shines in other areas. Out of the 13 teams that have queer players in their squads, Canada is one of the frontrunners with five players in their team part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Before we watch Canada and Wales battle it out in the next match this Saturday, we have compiled a list of all of the Canadian rugby team’s openly queer players.
Olivia Apps
With 13 caps for Canada, this will be Olivia Apps’ second World Cup.
She is a two-time Olympian, competing at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, where she captained the team to a historic silver medal.
As an openly queer woman with alopecia, Apps is a strong advocate for inclusivity and diversity in sport and likes to use her platform to encourage anyone and everyone to get involved.
“Rugby has been really positive and inclusive, especially for the queer community”.
“Rugby is a trailblazer for acceptance in sport. It empowers players to be who they are, and we’re taking real steps forward.”
Apps is in a relationship with Emily Boyes.
Tyson Beukeboom
Somewhat of a rugby legend, this year’s tournament will be Beukeboom’s fourth and final World Cup.
She is the most capped Canadian women’s rugby player and will become the joint most capped Canadian rugby player of all time on Saturday, marking her 80th international appearance.
Beukeboom plays in the second row and, since 2023, has been signed with the English club, Ealing Trailfinders. Her partner is Kendra Cousineau, who also plays for the Trailfinders.
Sophie de Goede
This will mark her second World Cup, having captained Canada in the 2021 Women’s World Cup, and has made 32 international appearances.
After being selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics, De Goede was cruelly forced to miss out, tearing her ACL only a week later. Since then, she has been focused on her recovery, with big plans for the World Cup.
Speaking on the state of the women’s game in Canada, De Goede has said, “We need to have a good performance at this World Cup for the game to continue to grow in Canada and to get more investment”.
“Someone asked me if I feel the pressure of little girls watching, and I think that is more of a responsibility and a privilege to inspire others.”
De Goede is dating fellow rugby player and ex-Saracens teammate Emma Taylor.
Paige Farries
Paige Farries plays for Saracens Women and has 40 caps for Canada. The 2025 World Cup will be her second.
Like Schell, Farries will face her wife, rugby player Caity Mattison, on 6 September when Canada is set to play Scotland.
Farries is a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community in rugby and has hosted talks with other players to open up conversations around inclusivity within the game. “The consistent visibility of LGBTQ+ voices within rugby reinforces that inclusivity is not just a seasonal gesture but a core value integral to the spirit of our game.”
“Rugby was the first place where I felt I could be authentically myself in every way”.
Julia Schell
Canada’s new Wonder Woman, Julia Schell, has already made an outstanding impact at this year’s tournament, scoring a sensational six tries in their opening game against Fiji last Saturday.
She plays in the second row for Ealing Trailfinders and has made 27 appearances for Canada so far. She competed at the 2021 Women’s World Cup, meaning this will be her second time at the tournament.
She is in a relationship with Scottish rugby player and fellow World Cup competitor Rachel Malcolm, whom Schell will have to play against when Scotland and Canada face off in early September.
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