‘Truly amazing’: Calgary connections on proud display in Women’s World Cup Final

Canada's women's rugby team is set for the World Cup showdown with England, with a squad that features plenty of Alberta talent.

Three former University of Calgary Dinos and a total of six Albertans will take the pitch on Saturday when Canada plays England in the Women’s World Cup Final.

Jade Menin’s sister, DaLeaka Menin is one of them, playing prop for Team Canada.

Saturday’s championship game will be her 70th cap, second all-time on the Canadian roster.

“This game is revolutionary, it’s broken so many barriers that Canada has had,” said Jade. “It’s going to be a tough game, they’re playing England, on England’s turf, but I’m so excited to watch all of the girls completely rock it.”

Jade isn’t just a fan -- she comes from a rugby family, playing at U of C for five years with DaLeaka and her youngest sister Kasselle. Her parents have flown to England for the game.

“It’s just really cool to see that it’s become just that much bigger of a sport,” said Menin.

The two other former Dinos on the roster include starter Julia Omokhuale and Emily Tuttosi.

“They are at the pinnacle of what you want your players to do. That’s the highest level of success,” said U of C Women’s varsity rugby team head coach Simon Chi.

Entering the Rugby World Cup, Canada was ranked second in the world behind England.

The two squads met in the 2014 World Cup Finals in Paris, where England won 21-9.

England has won 62 of its last 63 matches, with their only loss being the 2022 World Cup Final won by New Zealand.

Canada has lost its last 13 games against England. They’re 3-33-1 all-time, with the last victory a 52-17 triumph in July, 2016, although last October, Canada led 12-7 in the second half at the WXV 1 tournament in Vancouver before England scored late twice to win 21-12.

Funding challenges

Perhaps the biggest challenge for the women has been off the field: funding, as the team crowdsourced to raise $1 million.

On the eve of the tournament, it was at 95 per cent of its goal. The Tragically Hip helped out by launching a limited-edition t-shirt to support the mission.

The funding challenges faced by Canada sheds a little light on the resources the team is up against versus England on Saturday.

The Canadian women get paid the same as the men for wearing the Maple Leaf, according to a deal negotiated with the Canadian Rugby Players Association.

It’s not much.

“If they did everything this calendar year, they can earn about $12,000,” said Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys, adding there are some “success bonuses” on top of that.

Jen Kish, who played for Team Canada, points to the team’s success in 2014, when it made the World Cup Final, and then not even making it past the group stage in 2017 before recovering to finish fourth in 2022.

“How do you go from second in the world to fifth in the world? It’s because of lack of funding,” said Kish. “This is history repeating itself -- and 11 years later they are still not trying to raise money.”

Kish says many of players work second jobs or seek financial assistance from their family. She sees the Canadian squad as underdogs off the field, not on it.

“They have to go do other things so they are rugby players only 50 per cent of the time, and they’re playing England, who are rugby players 100 per cent of the time,” said Kish. “They’re the underdogs because they don’t have the same resources. They don’t have the same funds.”

“When you talk about them on field with England, we’re talking about two powerhouses colliding this Saturday,” she said, continuing. “Canada is not an underdog playing England this Saturday on the field, but off field they definitely have a lot more disadvantages than England.”

Rugby Canada reported revenue of $20.21 million in 2024, with some $11.5 million coming from World Rugby, Sport Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Foundation and other grants.

Contrast that with England’s Rugby Football Union, which cited revenue of 175.2 million pounds ($327.2 million) for the year ending June 30, 2024. And that was down from 221.4 million pounds ($413.5 million) the year before, with the drop attributed to fewer home Six Nations games and no men’s Autumn Nations Series matches.

England has 32 women under full-time contracts for the 2024-25 season, with another eight on “transition contracts.” And that is in addition to their club contracts.

Saturday’s final is expected to draw 82,000 fans.

European base

Of the 32 players on the Canadian World Cup squad, 20 are affiliated with teams in England or France. Most earn room and board but little else, says DaLeaka Menin, who plays for the Exeter Chiefs.

“Generally, you break even,” said Menin. “You’re not losing money being over there but you’re maybe not gaining any money to put into savings or maybe apply to the future.”

Come Saturday, none of that will matter as the team looks to beat well-funded England.

“They’re not doing it for the money, because there’s not a ton of money there for them,” Menin said. “They’re doing it because they want to be the best in the world, they’ve basically committed everything they have to doing it and the fact that they have a chance to do it on Saturday is truly amazing.”

Jade Menin says Canada can get it done.

“I think it’s going to be a really, really good match,” said Menin. “I have every confidence that Canada will rise to the occasion against England on Saturday, I think.”

The game can be watched on TSN, with kick off getting underway at 9 a.m.

Watch Party

The Calgary Rugby Club is hosting a watch party Saturday morning for the World Cup Finals and wants the whole community to come together to cheer them on.

The game will be screened Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Calgary Rugby Park, at 9025 Shepard Rd. S.E.

“Let’s pack the tent, share breakfast together and make history as we cheer Canada on against England,” the club said in a Facebook post.

“This is more than just a game,” they added on Instagram. “It’s a celebration of Canadian rugby and the women who have inspired a nation.”