Up Close with the World’s Best, Sophie de Goede

Sophie de Goede is a 26-year-old Canadian International, playing domestically in the PWR with Saracens. De Goede was named World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year after a successful World Cup campaign, where she won a silver medal with Canada.

“It was really special to receive the award after such a tough year. Not just for myself, but also the team around me during my rehab, to show what we were able to do.

“During the World Cup, I felt like I was getting better each game, but hadn’t found my stride yet,” de Goede says. “Then when we played against Fiji, I managed to score off the back of a lineout, which really helped me feel confident and comfortable again.”

De Goede opens up candidly about the sense of responsibility she feels being the holder of the award:

“I’ve been wanting to prove to people that I can be the best in the world but that I’ll also keep getting better. I know I’m not in my final form yet, so I’m intrinsically driven to keep growing as a player every day.”

On becoming the predecessor of Harlequins player, Ellie Kildunne, de Goede says:

“I haven’t managed to speak to Ellie about it yet, but it’ll be fun to go head-to-head with her as a forward and an outside back in the London Derby this year.”

Alongside being a crucial aspect of a very strong Canada team last summer, de Goede was also her country’s top points scorer. As a goal-kicking forward, she hopes to continue developing her skillset.

“I want to keep working on my defensive side, especially around the tackle area and being more dominant in collisions. I use my size and strength on attack, but I want to use it on the defensive side and just be a nuisance.

“Just being hyperactive and developing that hard edge to become a brick wall for people to run into is what I want to develop.”

A lot of work goes on to become the best player in the world, most of which is behind closed doors. De Goede discusses crucial aspects of her game that don’t necessarily get noticed by the general public.

“The lineout probably gets under appreciated by the wider public because it’s confusing and weird looking,” she laughs. “People might not understand all the intricacies that are happening, but it’s really important.

“Whether it’s for a maul or attacking play, the lineout is a try source for most teams. Whether I’m playing second or back row, it’s a core role that is important for me to do well at.”

De Goede began playing in the PWR with Saracens in the 2020-21 season. After one stint there, she returned ahead of the 2023-24 season and quickly became a crucial aspect of their team.

Reflecting on the attendance records being continually broken at the World Cup, de Goede discusses her hopes for the future of the PWR:

“It’s pretty remarkable to think about the exponential growth and how far women’s rugby has come. To play in front of a sold-out Allianz Stadium and be broadcast on the Sports Network back home (in Canada) was incredible.

“I hope that attendance numbers keep increasing, but even more so that people are just valuing our contribution to the sport. We have a high level of talent in the PWR and when people watch in-person or online, they can see the high quality!

“Hopefully the World Cup was the ‘drug’ that got them into watching women’s rugby, and now they can watch that every weekend in the domestic league.”

Not only is she the captain of the Canadian international rugby team, but de Goede also plays a key part in the leadership group at Saracens.

On what qualities and values it takes to be a great leader, she says:

“It’s important to be authentic to who you are. I’m not really a ‘hype’ person, so I delegate that responsibility and empower others to step into that role. That’s something I learned through a few different leaders when I got into captaincy, to work with others and distribute roles.

“I need to check multiple things off the leadership list; being the best captain on-field, taking part in media interviews, running meetings, etc. So, not only does delegating make it easier on the individual, but it empowers others.

“And leading on from that, I wouldn’t ask anyone to put in effort or do something that I wouldn’t do. That’s an important base level, to make sure you’re doing your job and everything that you say you’re doing. Then, you develop trust with your teammates.”

Coming from a highly rugby-orientated background, de Goede was no stranger to rugby legends. Her parents, Stephanie White and Hands de Goede, both captained Canada at International level, with Sophie following in their footsteps by doing so herself.

“I’ve always wanted to follow in their footsteps by playing an important role within and leading teams, the national team in particular. When I was growing up, I wasn’t sure what sport that would be in, but it ultimately ended up being rugby.

“They were both admired by their friends and teammates, which I was surrounded by growing up. I always thought that was really special and I knew I wanted to have that type of connection.

“It was the off-field aspect that I admired, because I didn’t have any videos of them playing. They’re old…” she laughs

On the best piece of advice that she has received from her parents, de Goede says:

“They always taught me to give my best effort and know that your mind will want to quit earlier than what your body is capable of doing. That’s really driven me to push myself.

“Off field, it is to set a good example as a leader. Something I learned quite young is not to limit yourself, and to strive to be as great as you can be, even if you don’t know how great that is.”

15-year-old Sophie de Goede was on holiday during the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup but immediately drove to France when Canada made the final. Canada fell short to previous runners-up, England, losing 21-9 at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris.

On what it means to be playing in that final 11 years later, de Goede says:

“It’s a pretty full circle moment. I’m frustrated because obviously you want the fairytale ending by ending it off with a win, but it’s still pretty special.

“I still have the ticket from that final in my room back home in Canada, because it was such an inspiring moment for me. Those women put Canada on the map during that Rugby World Cup, and I wanted to have a similar impact.

“So, to go to this World Cup Final and not need a ticket, but to have accreditation and get out onto the field, was pretty cool. The next step is to win a final!”

Whilst out with injury, de Goede made her broadcast debut on the coverage of Saracens vs Loughborough Lightning on 7th December 2025.

Discussing her experience co-commentating with Nick Heath, she says:

“It was nice to be an active participant in the game, whilst I’m out with injury. It was hard to toe the line of being unbiased, and I was trying so hard that I found myself questioning whether I’d given Saracens enough credit!

“But it was a really fun challenge for me and something that I’d certainly be interested in doing again.”

But de Goede still has a lot to give on-pitch in the rugby world. Speaking on her goals for the future, and the legacy she wants to leave, she says:

“I want to win a World Cup with Canada and the PWR title with Saracens. I would like people to see that I am constantly pushing myself and my team to be better and better, and that to be part of my legacy.

“I’m really fearful of having an average career, which really drives me to do something extraordinary within the national team and club level. I want my career to be special because I know I have strong potential.

“I always want to go one step further.”