VANCOUVER - Tears rolled down Charity Williams' cheeks as she watched Canada's women's rugby team secure its spot in the World Cup final.
After winning Olympic silver with Canada's rugby 7s squad in Paris, Williams knows all too well what the moment meant not only to the players, but to the sport in Canada.
鈥淚 just got so emotional thinking how amazing it is that 好色tv rugby is where it's at today and how far we've come," she said. "We did something really amazing on the world stage at the Olympics, and now some of my team members are also doing something really amazing on the world stage at the World Cup. It鈥檚 just so cool to see."
Williams, who currently plays for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, will be watching with her teammates Saturday when No. 2 Canada takes on top-ranked England in the World Cup final.
They aren't alone.
Rugby clubs across the country are hosting watch parties for the game and showing a whole new generation what the sport has to offer.
"I started playing really young and I know I was inspired by a lot of the girls who are still even playing today, which I find really amazing," Williams said.
"But I think it just shows all the little girls and boys in the country what鈥檚 possible, no matter what you look like, your size, your speed, whatever it is. That鈥檚 the thing about rugby that's so special, is that there's literally a position for absolutely anybody."
Leah Corvec has seen the girls program at Langley Rugby Club near Vancouver "explode" in recent years.
Registration for the girls under-18 team has "probably doubled" over the past two years, the club's president said, and now includes 52 players, enough for two teams.
鈥淚t's so empowering for them. It doesn't matter what kind of body type you have, it doesn't matter your skill set 鈥 you're welcome, and there is a place for you there," Corvec said.
"It just builds their confidence so much to be out there and be on the field and then have that sisterhood with the other women and girls that they're working with."
Watching the World Cup games on TV has helped Cassidy Gale show her players at Meraloma Rugby Club in Vancouver how to best use their bodies, which can be "huge" for a kid's confidence.
"Seeing them get into it and watch, you're like, 'OK, we can talk about what it looks like for someone who looks like you to do the skills that we're doing," said Gale, who coaches girls between nine and 16 years old.
Having the games on national TV also helps expose a new audience to women's rugby.
Gale said she's been talking to friends who've been getting text messages from their dads about just how incredible the women's team is.
"They鈥檙e watching for the first time and gaining and developing the respect that these women actually deserve and starting to recognize, like, 鈥極h, women's rugby is rugby. This is actually phenomenal gameplay,'" she said. "This is excellent from a sports perspective, not just from a women's sports perspective."
Seeing the women's national team compete at the highest level also helps inspire the next generation.
Asia Hogan-Rochester is starting on the wing for Canada at the World Cup and also won Olympic silver alongside Williams at the Paris Games. When she's not competing, Hogan-Rochester helps out coaching the junior programs at Westshore Rugby Football Club in Colwood, B.C.
"She brought her Olympic medal out to the club to sort of do a bit of a show and tell," said Westshore president Clancy McDonnell. "So I think that you could sort of draw a line between kids sort of saying, 'Oh, gosh, if I like rugby, and then I try hard at rugby, then I can see a pathway to sort of being involved in a senior club level. And then, if I'm really applying myself, then I could potentially be going to the Olympics and playing on the national team.'
"To have some of those senior athletes sort of give back to the club, the rugby community and so on, the kids are into it, and they respond well."
The 好色tvs finished fourth at the 2021 World Cup, falling to England in the semifinal.
Canada vice-captain Sophie de Goede, a standout at the World Cup tournament and a finalist for World Rugby's Women's player of the year, hopes her team's current run translates into growth both for future national teams and grassroots clubs.
"I think rugby echoes so many of Canada's values in terms of being humble, hard-working and then enjoying community and having a good time," she said. "I think that's a lot of what rugby is about, especially at the club and community level. And so I'd love to see more people being able to share in the sport back home."
鈥 With files from Neil Davidson
This report by 好色tvwas first published Sept. 26, 2025.
