Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team made history by defeating New Zealand’s Black Ferns for the first time to claim the 2024 Pacific Four Series with a thrilling 22-19 comeback victory over the reigning Pacific Four Series and Rugby World Cup champions while playing on foreign soil in Christchurch, New Zealand. This win propelled Canada to second place in the women’s world rankings, their highest position since November 2016.
In a match filled with historical significance, Tyson Beukeboom achieved a milestone by earning her 68th cap at kick-off, becoming Canada’s all-time women’s caps leader.
“I still can’t find the words for it. It hasn’t sunk in yet. We’ve achieved so much tonight,” said Beukeboom. “We believed we could do it. We just had to step onto the field and execute our game plan, and we did that. I think ‘proud’ is the best word to describe how I feel right now. It was an incredible experience to be out there tonight.”
Beukeboom’s team wasted no time, forcing New Zealand onto the defensive from the start. Sophie de Goede put Canada ahead 3-0 with a penalty kick in the seventh minute, but the Black Ferns quickly responded with Katelyn Vahaakolo scoring in the seventh and 21st minutes to take a 14-3 lead.
Fancy Bermudez sparked Canada’s comeback, scoring her first try of the match off a set piece. De Goede’s conversion narrowed the gap to 14-10, and a strong defensive effort from Canada closed out the first half.
“Staying calm and composed was our focus all week,” said de Goede. “We knew our defensive pressure was key, especially right before half-time.”
McKinley Hunt gave Canada a narrow 15-14 lead just four minutes into the second half, and Bermudez scored her second try after New Zealand received a yellow card. De Goede converted Bermudez’s try to extend Canada’s lead to eight points over the Black Ferns.
Canada appeared to extend their lead through Paige Farries and Alexandra Tessier, but the try was disallowed due to an earlier obstruction.
“Defensively, it was crucial for us at the end,” said Head Coach Kevin Rouet. “The team maintained control until the final moments, which was really satisfying. They showed great collective performance.”
Canada’s defense was relentless, thwarting a 35-phase attack from New Zealand. Despite a yellow card to Olivia Apps with 10 minutes left, Canada held firm and denied a potential New Zealand try. The Black Ferns managed to score in the 72nd minute, but Canada maintained their 22-19 lead until the final whistle to secure the historic victory.
“I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet, but it’s incredibly special to achieve something historic for the first time,” said de Goede. “Today, we did a great job of focusing on the present moment and each play. I’m really proud of the way we bounced back after every play and found a way to win.”
For more details on the Pacific Four Series, including scores and results, visit the official website.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will return to home soil this fall for WXV 1, with matches in British Columbia in September and October. Details on the WXV 1 match schedule, venues, ticketing, and broadcast information will be announced soon.