Canada Rugby icon and forever a Cowichan Piggie, forward Tyson Beukeboom will dress for Team Canada in her fourth Rugby World Cup, which kicked off in Sunderland, England starting 9:30 a.m. this morning (Aug. 23) against Fiji.
Canada, currently ranked second in the world behind the host country, England, will also see No. 10-ranked Wales and seventh-ranked Scotland in Pool B play.
Beukeboom, who holds the record as the most capped Canadian women's rugby player, is one of 21 returning players from the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) and one of just three to be playing in their fourth World Cup. More than 10 players will make their World Cup debuts.
Beukeboom said being named to the team for a major tournament never gets old.
"It does not," she said with a laugh. "I'm so excited."
Beukeboom is going into the event knowing it will be her last World Cup but it hasn't dampened her enthusiasm one bit.
"It will be the last but I'm excited for how well I know we will do. It's going to be so exciting."
It took until 2024 for Beukeboom to decide to go pro. She signed her first professional contract with the Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club last season, ahead of their first foray in the Allianz Premiership, England’s elite women’s rugby league. She played two seasons with the club before wrapping up her time there.
Beukeboom will be joined on Team Canada by former Trailfinders teammates Clair Gallagher and Julia Schell, something she's looking forward to given the enormity of the world stage in comparison.
"It's going to be so fun," she said. "It's way more exciting at a World Cup."
Vancouver Island talent includes Victoria forwards Caroline Crossley and Sophie de Goede — who both play their club rugby with the Castaway Wanderers.