2021 Rugby World Cup squads
The 2021 Rugby World Cup was an international rugby union tournament held in New Zealand from 8 October until 12 November 2022. Twelve national teams competed, and each brought a 32-player squad containing no regulated number of players per-position to the tournament. The tournament was administered by World Rugby, to whom each team submitted their finalised squad.
The numbers of caps for each player do not include any matches played after the start of tournament.
Overview
Below is a table listing all the head coaches and captains for each nation.
| Team | Coach | Captain |
|---|---|---|
 Australia | Jay Tregonning | Shannon Parry |
 Canada |  Kévin Rouet | Sophie de Goede |
 England | Simon Middleton | Sarah Hunter |
 Fiji | Senirusi Seruvakula | Sereima Leweniqila |
| France | Thomas Darracq | Gaëlle Hermet |
 Italy | Andrea Di Giandomenico | Elisa Giordano |
 Japan | Lesley McKenzie | Saki Minami |
 New Zealand | Wayne Smith | Ruahei Demant & Kennedy Simon |
 Scotland | Bryan Easson | Rachel Malcolm |
 South Africa | Stanley Raubenheimer | Nolusindiso Booi |
 United States | Rob Cain | Kate Zackary |
 Wales | Ioan Cunningham | Siwan Lillicrap |
Pool A
Australia
Australia named their final 32-player squad on 7 September 2022.[1]
New Zealand
New Zealand named their final 32-player squad on 13 September 2022.[2]
| Player | Position | Caps | Club/Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Connor | Hooker | 8 | Chiefs / Bay of Plenty Volcanix |
| Natalie Delamere | Hooker | 2 | Matatū / Bay of Plenty Volcanix |
| Georgia Ponsonby | Hooker | 6 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Tanya Kalounivale | Prop | 4 | Chiefs / Waikato |
| Phillipa Love | Prop | 19 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Krystal Murray | Prop | 4 | Blues / Northland |
| Amy Rule | Prop | 6 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Awhina Tangen-Wainohu | Prop | 1 | Chiefs / Waikato |
| Santo Taumata | Prop | 1 | Chiefs / Bay of Plenty Volcanix |
| Chelsea Bremner | Lock | 5 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Joanah Ngan-Woo | Lock | 10 | Hurricanes / Wellington |
| Maiakawanakaulani Roos | Lock | 7 | Blues / Auckland Storm |
| Alana Bremner | Back row | 8 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Sarah Hirini | Back row | 10 | Hurricanes / Manawatū Cyclones |
| Charmaine McMenamin | Back row | 27 | Blues / Auckland Storm |
| Liana Mikaele-Tu'u | Back row | 6 | Blues / Auckland Storm |
| Kendra Reynolds | Back row | 5 | Matatū / Bay of Plenty Volcanix |
| Kennedy Simon (cc) | Back row | 10 | Chiefs / Waikato |
| Ariana Bayler | Scrum-Half | 5 | Chiefs / Waikato |
| Kendra Cocksedge | Scrum-Half | 61 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu | Scrum-Half | 9 | Chiefs / Counties Manukau |
| Ruahei Demant (cc) | Fly-half | 20 | Blues / Auckland Storm |
| Hazel Tubic | Fly-half | 16 | Chiefs / Counties Manukau |
| Sylvia Brunt | Centre | 4 | Blues / Auckland Storm |
| Amy du Plessis | Centre | 3 | Matatū / Canterbury |
| Theresa Fitzpatrick | Centre | 12 | Blues / Auckland Storm |
| Stacey Fluhler | Outside Back | 20 | Chiefs / Waikato |
| Renee Holmes | Outside Back | 4 | Matatū / Waikato |
| Ayesha Leti-I'iga | Outside Back | 17 | Hurricanes / Wellington |
| Ruby Tui | Outside Back | 4 | Chiefs / Counties Manukau |
| Renee Wickliffe | Outside Back | 44 | Chiefs / Bay of Plenty Volcanix |
| Portia Woodman | Outside Back | 18 | Chiefs / Northland |
Scotland
Scotland named their final 32-player squad on 15 September 2022.[3]
1On 17 October Choe Rollie left the squad through injury. No replacement was called up.[4]
Wales
Wales named their final 32-player squad on 21 September 2022.[5]
1On 12 October Alisha Butchers was released from the squad following a knee injury sustained in Wales' match against Scotland. No replacement was initially called up.
2On 26 October Kate Williams was called up to the Wales squad.[6]
Pool B
Canada
Canada named their final 32-player squad on 31 August 2022.[7]
1On 5 October Laura Russell was ruled out of the tournament through injury. She was replaced by Pamphinette Buisa.[8]
2On 20 October Taylor Perry and Brianna Miller were both ruled out of the remainder of the tournament through injury. Veronica Harrigan joined the squad.[9]
| Player | Position | Caps | Club/Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Tessier | Centre | 35 |  Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC |
| Alex Ellis | Prop | 9 | Saracens |
| Alysha Corrigan | Wing | 9 | Saracens |
| Anaïs Holly | Wing | 16 | Town of Mont-Royal RFC |
| 2Brianna Miller | Scrum-half | 31 | Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC |
| Brittany Kassil | Hooker | 27 |  Guelph Redcoats |
| Courtney Holtkamp | Back row | 19 |  Red Deer Titans |
| DaLeaka Menin | Prop | 37 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Elissa Alarie | Fullback | 41 |  Westshore RFC |
| Emily Tuttosi | Hooker | 10 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Emma Taylor | Lock | 12 |  Halifax Rugby Club |
| Fabiola Forteza | Back row | 13 | Club de rugby de Québec |
| Gabrielle Senft | Back row | 10 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Gillian Boag | Hooker | 11 | Capilano RFC |
| Julia Schell | Fly-half | 4 | Castaway Wanderers |
| Justine Pelletier | Fly-half | 10 | Club de rugby de Québec |
| Karen Paquin | Back row | 32 | Stade Bordelais |
| 1Laura Russell | Hooker | 44 | Toronto Nomads |
| Maddy Grant | Centre | 0 | University of Ottawa |
| Marie Thibault | Scrum-half | 0 | Club de rugby de Québec |
| McKinley Hunt | Lock | 9 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Mikiela Nelson | Prop | 4 | Capilano RFC |
| Ngalula Fuamba | Back row | 8 | Town of Mont-Royal RFC |
| Olivia DeMerchant | Prop | 49 | Halifax Tars RFC |
| Paige Farries | Wing | 19 | University of Worcester Warriors |
| 1Pamphinette Buisa | Wing | Ottawa Irish | |
| Sabrina Poulin | Wing | 9 | Town of Mont-Royal RFC |
| Sara Kaljuvee | Centre | 12 | Toronto Scottish |
| Sara Svoboda | Back row | 13 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Sarah-Maude Lachance | Fly-half | 2 | Section Paloise |
| Sophie de Goede (c) | Back row | 14 | Castaway Wanderers RFC |
| 2Taylor Perry | Fly-half | 11 | Oakville Crusaders |
| Tyson Beukeboom | Lock | 49 | Cowichan RFC |
| 2Veronica Harrigan | Hooker | 2 | Brantford Harlequins |
Maya Montiel, Cindy Nelles, Abby Duguid, Janna Slevinsky, Renee Gonzalez and Chloe Daniels were selected as non-travelling reserves.
Italy
Italy named their final 32-player squad on 21 September 2022.[10]
| Player | Position | Caps | Club/Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francesca Barro | Prop | 1 |  Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Lucia Gai | Prop | 84 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Gaia Maris | Prop | 12 | Wasps |
| Michela Merlo | Prop | 11 |  Rugby Colorno |
| Sara Seye | Prop | 8 |  Rugby Calvisano |
| Emanuela Stecca | Prop | 3 | Villorba Rugby |
| Silvia Turani | Prop | 20 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Melissa Bettoni | Hooker | 72 | Stade Rennais |
| Vittoria Vecchini | Hooker | 11 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Giordana Duca | Lock | 31 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Valeria Fedrighi | Lock | 36 | Stade Toulousain |
| Isabella Locatelli | Lock | 34 | Rugby Colorno |
| Sara Tounesi | Lock | 24 | Sale Sharks |
| Ilaria Arrighetti | Back row | 56 | Stade Rennais |
| Giada Franco | Back row | 24 | Rugby Colorno |
| Elisa Giordano (c) | Back row | 56 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Francesca Sgorbini | Back row | 13 | ASM Romagnat |
| Beatrice Veronese | Back row | 12 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Sara Barattin | Scrum-half | 107 | Villorba Rugby |
| Sofia Stefan | Scrum-half | 69 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Veronica Madia | Fly-half | 32 | Rugby Colorno |
| Emma Stevanin | Fly-half | 2 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Beatrice Capomaggi | Centre | 4 | Villorba Rugby |
| Alyssa D'Inca' | Centre | 10 | Villorba Rugby |
| Beatrice Rigoni | Centre | 57 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Michela Sillari | Centre | 70 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Manuela Furlan | Outside Back | 88 | Villorba Rugby |
| Francesca Granzotto | Outside Back | 2 |  Unione Rugby Capitolina |
| Maria Magatti | Outside Back | 46 | CUS Milano Rugby |
| Aura Muzzo | Outside Back | 27 | Villorba Rugby |
| Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi | Outside Back | 16 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Sofia Rolfi | Outside Back | 0 | Rugby Colorno |
Japan
Japan named their final 32-player squad on 13 September 2022.[11]
| Player | Position | Caps | Club/Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachiko Kato | Prop | 11 |  Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Wako Kitano | Prop | 6 |  MIE Pearls |
| Hinata Komaki | Hooker | 3 | Nippon Sport Science University |
| Yuka Sadaka | Prop | 13 |  Hirosaki Sakura Ovals |
| Saki Minami (c) | Prop | 26 | Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Makoto Lavemai | Prop | 18 | Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Kotomi Taniguchi | Hooker | 4 | MIE Pearls |
| Nijiho Nagata | Hooker | 9 |  International Budo University |
| Masami Kawamura | Lock | 3 |  RKU Rugby Ryugasaki Grace |
| Yuna Sato | Lock | 7 | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix |
| Maki Takano | Lock | 17 | Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Kie Tamai | Lock | 14 | MIE Pearls |
| Otoka Yoshimura | Lock | 5 | Rissho University |
| Sakurako Korai | Back row | 2 | Nippon Sport Science University |
| Seina Saito | Back row | 32 | MIE Pearls |
| Misaki Suzuki | Back row | 30 | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix |
| Iroha Nagata | Back row | 16 |  Arukas Queen Kumagaya |
| Kyoko Hosokawa | Back row | 8 | MIE Pearls |
| Ayano Nagai | Back row | 11 |  Yokohama TKM |
| Megumi Abe | Scrum-half | 11 | Arukas Queen Kumagaya |
| Moe Tsukui | Scrum-half | 19 | Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Ayasa Otsuka | Fly-half | 10 | RKU Rugby Ryugasaki Grace |
| Minori Yamamoto | Fly-half | 21 | MIE Pearls |
| Komachi Imakugi | Wing | 10 | Rissho University |
| Hinano Nagura | Wing | 11 | Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Yuki Ito | Wing | 12 | MIE Pearls |
| Ayaka Suzuki | Wing | 18 | Arukas Queen Kumagaya |
| Shione Nakayama | Centre | 8 | Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars |
| Mana Furuta | Centre | 15 | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix |
| Ria Anoku | Fullback | 7 | MIE Pearls |
| Ai Hirayama | Fullback | 5 | National Defense Academy of Japan |
| Rinka Matsuda | Fullback | 6 | Nippon Sport Science University |
United States
The United States named their final 32-player squad on 16 September 2022.[12]
Alycia Washington, Rachel Ehrecke, Bulou Mataitoga and Saher Hamdan were named as non-travelling reserves.
Pool C
England
England named their final 32-player squad on 20 September 2022.[13]
1On 22 October Laura Keates withdrew from the squad due to injury. They were replaced by Detysha Harper.[14]
Fiji
Fiji named their final 32-player squad on 21 September 2022.[15]
France
France named their final 32-player squad on 11 September 2022
1On 17 October Laure Sansus withdrew from the squad through injury. She was replaced by Marie Dupouy.[16]
South Africa
South Africa named their final 32-player squad on 21 September 2022.[17]
| Player | Position | Caps | Club/Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanelisiwe Charlie | Prop | 4 | EP Queens |
| Babalwa Latsha | Prop | 17 | DHL Western Province |
| Monica Mazibukwana | Prop | 3 | EP Queens |
| Azisa Mkiva | Prop | 1 | DHL Western Province |
| Yonela Ngxingolo | Prop | 18 | Border Ladies |
| Asithandile Ntoyanto | Prop | 12 | Border Ladies |
| Roseline Botes | Hooker | 5 | DHL Western Province |
| Micke Gunter | Hooker | 3 | Cell C Sharks Women |
| Lindelwa Gwala | Hooker | 18 | Cell C Sharks Women |
| Nolusindiso Booi (c) | Lock | 30 | DHL Western Province |
| Lerato Makua | Lock | 5 | Blue Bulls Women |
| Nompumelelo Mathe | Lock | 8 | Cell C Sharks Women |
| Catha Jacobs | Lock | 7 | Blue Bulls Women |
| Lusanda Dumke | Back row | 15 | Border Ladies |
| Aseza Hele | Back row | 13 | Boland Dames |
| Sinazo Mcatshulwa | Back row | 15 | DHL Western Province |
| Sizophila Solontsi | Back row | 13 | Cell C Sharks Women |
| Rights Mkhari | Back row | 8 | Blue Bulls Women |
| Tayla Kinsey | Scrum-half | 21 | Cell C Sharks Women |
| Rumandi Potgieter | Scrum-half | 3 | Blue Bulls Women |
| Unam Tose | Scrum-half | 11 | Border Ladies |
| Libbie Janse van Rensburg | Fly-half | 10 | Blue Bulls Women |
| Zenay Jordaan | Fly-half | 34 | EP Queens |
| Jakkie Cilliers | Centre | 2 | Blue Bulls Women |
| Zintle Mpupha | Centre | 15 | DHL Western Province |
| Aphiwe Ngwevu | Centre | 12 | Border Ladies |
| Chumisa Qawe | Centre | 9 | DHL Western Province |
| Nomawethu Mabenge | Outside Back | 9 | EP Queens |
| Chuma Qawe | Outside Back | 3 | DHL Western Province |
| Eloise Webb | Outside Back | 7 | Border Ladies |
| Simamkele Namba | Outside Back | 6 | DHL Western Province |
| Nadine Roos | Outside Back | 8 | Blue Bulls Women |
Statistics
All statistics relate to the initial 32-man squads named prior to the start of the tournament on 8 October 2022 and do not include players who joined a squad during the tournament.
- Six squads included no players based outside their home country: Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Japan and South Africa
- The squads with the fewest players playing domestically are Wales (zero) and Scotland (nine)
Player representation by club
The 384 participating players, 2 players unattached, represented 84 different club sides and 3 national sevens programs. The sides with the most players selected are below:
| Players | Clubs |
|---|---|
| 18 | NSW Waratahs, Gloucester-Hartpury, Saracens |
| 17 | Exeter Chiefs, Fijiana Drua |
| 15 | Loughborough Lightning, University of Worcester Warriors |
| 12 | Chiefs Manawa |
| 11 | Sale Sharks, Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| 10 | Bristol Bears, Matatū, DHL Western Province |
| 9 | Harlequins |
| 8 | Blagnac Rugby Féminin, Fijiana Sevens, MIE Pearls |
Players representation by league
| League | Players | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Premier 15s | 116 | 30.2% |
| Super W | 49 | 12.8% |
| Élite 1 | 39 | 10.2% |
| Super Rugby Aupiki | 32 | 8.3% |
| Women's Premier Division | 32 | 8.3% |
| Japan Women's Rugby Championship | 32 | 8.3% |
| Serie A Division 1 | 23 | 6.0% |
| National Sevens Squads | 11 | 2.9% |
| Women's Premier League Rugby | 10 | 2.6% |
| Super Ligue Féminine | 8 | 2.1% |
| Other | 30 | 7.8% |
| Unattatched | 2 | 0.5% |
| Total | 384 | — |
Squad Caps
| Nation | Caps | Most capped player | Least capped player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 302 | Liz Patu (29) | Tania Naden (0) Maya Stewart (0) |
| Canada | 569 | Olivia DeMerchant (49) Tyson Beukeboom (49) | Maddy Grant (0) Marie Thibault (0) |
| England | 1214 | Sarah Hunter (135) | Sadia Kabeya (4) Morwenna Talling (4) |
| Fiji | 123 | Joma Rubuti (11) | Akanisi Sokoiwasa (0) Iris Verebalavu (0) Siteri Rasolea (0) Raijieli Daveua (0) |
| France | 771 | Safi N'Diaye (85) | Joanna Grisez (0) |
| Italy | 1038 | Sara Barattin (107) | Sofia Rolfi (0) |
| Japan | 388 | Seina Saito (32) | Sakurako Korai (2) |
| New Zealand | 360 | Kendra Cocksedge (61) | Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (1) Santo Taumata (1) |
| Scotland | 775 | Emma Wassell (57) | Elliann Clarke (1) Coreen Grant (1) |
| South Africa | 352 | Zenay Jordaan (34) | Azisa Mkiva (1) |
| United States | 374 | Hope Rogers (36) | Erica Jarrell (0) Jett Hayward (0) |
| Wales | 869 | Elinor Snowsill (67) | Lowri Norkett (2) Carys Williams-Morris (2) |
References
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (7 September 2022). "Wallaroos confirm Rugby World Cup squad | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns squad locked in for Rugby World Cup". allblacks.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Scotland squad named for Rugby World Cup 2021". Scottish rugby union. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Scotland full-back Rollie out of rest of World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Wales Rugby World Cup squad named - Welsh rugby union". Welsh rugby union | Wales & Regions. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Wales add NZ naval officer to World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "Canada's Women's Rugby World Cup squad named for New Zealand". Rugby Canada. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Laura Russell ruled out of Rugby World Cup through injury". Rugby Canada. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "BRIANNA MILLER RULED OUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF RUGBY WORLD CUP". Rugby Canada. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "NAZIONALE FEMMINILE: ANDREA DI GIANDOMENICO ANNUNCIA LE 32 ATLETE CONVOCATE PER LA COPPA DEL MONDO". www.federugby.it. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Sakura Fifteen Rugby World Cup Squad Announced". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "USA Women's Eagles Rugby World Cup roster named as the official countdown to New Zealand begins | Latest Rugby News | USA Eagles". Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "England prop Keates out of Rugby World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ Prasad, Vashneel (21 September 2022). "Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup". Official Website of Fiji rugby union. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "France's Sansus retires after World Cup injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Springbok Women squad for Rugby World Cup in NZ named". SA Rugby. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
