Julia Schell delivered a historic performance, scoring six tries in the second half, as Canada kicked off their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a resounding 65-7 victory over Fiji in York. This remarkable feat made Schell only the second woman in World Cup history to achieve a six-try haul in a single match, following Krista McFarren's performance in 1994.

Schell's try-scoring spree began shortly after Fiji managed to get on the scoreboard, showcasing her exceptional speed and power. Over the course of 23 minutes, she consistently broke through Fiji's defense, leaving them unable to contain her runs from deep.

Canada's head coach, Kevin Rouet, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "I'm very happy with the way we finished the game. The games will be tougher and tougher. To score 65 points, we're happy with that." He also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and composure as the tournament progresses.

The match started strongly for Canada, with Sophie de Goede scoring the opening try within the first six minutes. De Goede, who captained Canada to fourth place in the 2022 World Cup, missed the 2024 Olympics due to a knee injury but is determined to make her mark in this tournament.

Gillian Boag, Caroline Crossley, and Alysha Corrigan further extended Canada's lead in the first half. However, the team faced a minor setback when Taylor Perry was sin-binned for head-on-head contact, though she avoided a red card after a review.

Fiji responded in the second half with a well-executed try by Kolora Lomani, but Canada's dominance was undeniable. Despite the loss of starting wing Fancy Bermudez to a leg injury, Canada continued to assert their superiority, with Karen Paquin adding the final try following a late line-out.

Canada, one of four nations to have participated in every Women's Rugby World Cup, has yet to claim the title. Their closest attempt was in 2014 when they were runners-up to England. This year, they aim to finally secure their first global championship.

Line-ups:

Canada XV: Kassil, Boag, Menin, de Goede, O'Donnell, Crossley, Forteza, Senft, Pelletier, Perry, Bermudez, Tessier, Symonds, Corrigan, Schell

Subs: Tuttosi, Hunt, DeMerchant, Beukeboom, Paquin, Smith, Apps, Seumanutafa

Fiji XV: Senivutu, Tawake, Robanakadavu, Coates, Nakesa, Daunimoala, Fisher, Komaitai, Railumu, Kinita, Adi Tove, Neihamu, Adivitaloga, Delaiwau, Vueti

Subs: Naliva, Vasuturaga, Matarugu, Serevi, Naisewa, Lomani, Luvu, Nailolo