Queer stars shine as Canada stuns New Zealand to reach Women’s Rugby World Cup final
Sophie de Goede, one of Canada’s contingent of publicly out LGBTQ players, top-scored with 14 points to eliminate the six-time world champions. The post Queer stars shine as Canada stuns New Zealand to reach Women’s Rugby World Cup final appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
O Canada! Women’s Rugby World Cup glory is within their reach after a sensational victory over holders New Zealand, in which several publicly out LGBTQ players played their part.
In the greatest result in the nation’s rugby history, the Canadians triumphed 34-19 over the Black Ferns, who had won six of the last seven World Cup tournaments.
Sophie de Goede had already become Canada’s all-time leading points scorer during the pool stage, and humbled Australia in the first half of the quarterfinal last week.
The 26-year-old lock, who has previously spoken about being in a relationship with fellow rugby player Emma Taylor, was again in blistering form at Ashton Gate in Bristol on Friday night.
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De Goede missed out on the Paris 2024 Olympics last summer due to a torn ACL, but that disappointment has been all but forgotten as she piles on the points during this World Cup.
Just before the break, she crossed for Canada’s fourth of five tries in total after a sharp burst of pace that caught New Zealand cold.
@rugbyworldcup SDG doing SDG things #RWC2025 #NZLvCAN ♬ follow hellocallum – HelloCallum
She also kicked nine points during the match for a personal 14-point haul and stands a strong chance of topping the overall scoring charts when the tournament wraps up.
At Twickenham on Sept. 27, Canada will face the winners of the second semifinal between hosts England and France.
“We’ve got one more job left to do, but there’s huge relief, excitement and pride after that match,” De Goede told BBC Sport.
Among the fans who will have been watching on TV was another certified superstar in Shania Twain. The “Queen of Country Pop” wrote on Instagram earlier in the week: “I’ll be cheering for you all on Friday!! Let’s go girls!”
It’d be fair to say De Goede was born to play rugby for Canada. Her parents, Stephanie and Hans, both captained the women’s and men’s teams respectively.
Also among the Canadian heroines to conquer New Zealand Friday were Julia Schell, who scored a record six tries in one match earlier in the tournament, in a pool-stage thrashing of Fiji.
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Schell is currently dating Scotland’s Rachel Malcolm, while also playing out and proud for Canada on Friday was second row Tyson Beukeboom, now Canada’s record appearance maker and the daughter of four-time Stanley Cup-winning NHL defenseman Jeff Beukeboom.
The 34-year-old lock plays her club rugby in England for Trailfinders alongside her girlfriend, Kendra Cousineau.
Beukeboom came off the bench in the second half in Bristol, as did Olivia Apps, who skippered the Olympic silver medal-winning sevens team at Paris 2024.
On the wrong side of the result was Kiwi rugby legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, another of the out LGBTQ stars on show. She had claimed her second Olympic gold medal in sevens last summer, defeating Apps and co in the Stade de France final.
This, however, was Canada’s time. Speaking after the final whistle, De Goede had a message for the team’s supporters.
“We have one job left to do for you guys,” she said. “The dream is to win a World Cup, and getting to the final is a huge part of this. Words can’t express how much your support means to us.”
The Ashton Gate stadium DJ was certainly up to speed about who was watching back home. His choice of song for the post-game celebrations? “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
After that result, the players’ prerogative will be to have a little fun, before focusing on the final and a chance to become champions of the world.
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The post Queer stars shine as Canada stuns New Zealand to reach Women’s Rugby World Cup final appeared first on Outsports.
