Kelly McCallum, captain of the Canadian women's rugby team, is no stranger to New Zealand rugby. She is married to a New Zealand rugby coach, after all, and currently calls Sydney, Australia, home.
McCallum, 32, will get a first-hand look at the top-ranked New Zealand Black Ferns today at the Canada Cup women's tournament in Ottawa. But the skipper will be watching from the bench to start as head coach Neil Langevin uses his full roster, knowing that Canada and New Zealand will meet again Friday in the tournament final.
The Black Ferns opened the competition last Wednesday with a 30-9 win over Scotland. The Canadians downed the Scots 22-9 on Saturday.
For McCallum, the Canada Cup is a welcome trip home. And a chance to start preparing for the 2006 World Cup in Edmonton. The 5-foot-5, 145-pound fly half will be a key player for Canada.
"She's a player who's able to control the game really well," Langevin said yesterday. "She is one of the smartest rugby players you'll ever meet. So tactically, she's very strong. And she does all the hard work in the off-season to make sure that her body's prepared."
Living 10 minutes from the beach in Sydney helps her recover from her twice-a-day workouts. Plus, McCallum is awaiting a work permit so she can resume her teaching career (physical education and math). That has afforded her plenty of workout time in the interim.
McCallum is married to rugby coach Lance Hayward and their sport has taken them around the world.
"He's been a big influence on my rugby career, that's for sure," she said.
Hayward is with the New South Wales Waratahs, a Super 12 team based out of Sydney, where he coaches the academy and "A" side. McCallum is playing for a Sydney University alumnae team.
Last fall, he was a coach with the Canadian women's team, working with the backs. "He's a great rugby mind," Langevin said.
McCallum and Hayward met six years ago in Australia. McCallum, who spent a year there via an exchange program involving the University of British Columbia, was playing for a women's team in Brisbane and Hayward was coaching a men's side.
McCallum returned to Canada and UBC after Australia, playing for the Douglas Rugby Club.
After the 2002 World Cup, she and her husband moved to England and spent three years with the Richmond club. McCallum played and Hayward coached.
"It's probably the best league in the world," McCallum said of the English women's circuit. "Even the Kiwis come over and say that, so for my rugby career, it was probably excellent."
Still, after the hustle and bustle of London, she is enjoying the laid-back life in Australia.
"I love it," McCallum said.
New Zealand may be their final destination, however.
Canada, which finished fourth at the last women's World Cup in 2002, lost 32-5 to New Zealand in their last meeting, in Vancouver in 2005.
"Their backs are very strong," McCallum said. "That's their strength. They're very athletic and have a touch [rugby]background. So they've got really good skills in the back."
Lock Paige Burdett of Lethbridge, Alta., and flanker Barb Mervin of Peterborough, Ont., will win their first caps against the Black Ferns.
The lone injury problem for Canada is Montreal scrum half Erin Dance. Toronto's Tamara Curtis will start at No. 9.
Cup roster
Canada's roster for the Canada Cup women's rugby tournament in Ottawa (player, hometown, club team):
Leslie Cripps (captain), Williams Lake, B.C., London Saracens (England); Lesley McKenzie, Vancouver, UBC; Sheila Turner, Montreal, Montreal Barbarians; Paige Burdett, Lethbridge, Alta., Lethbridge RFC; Rania Burns, Edmonton, Edmonton Lep/Tigers; Barb Mervin, Peterborough, Ont., Peterborough Pagans; Gillian Florence, Montreal, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (Que.); Katie Murray, Edmonton, Edmonton Lep/Tigers; Tamara Curtis, Montreal, Richmond (England); Sarah Ulmer, Regina, Berkeley All-Blues (U.S.); Colette McAuley, Guelph, Ont., Highland; Kristy Heemskerk, Waterloo, Ont., Waterloo County; Maria Gallo, Edmonton, Edmonton Lep/Tigers; Brooke Hilditch, Toronto, Brampton (Ont.) Beavers; Heather Moyse, Summerside, Toronto Scottish.
Reserves: Racquel Eldridge, Ottawa, London Wasps (England); Heather McDonald, Edmonton, Edmonton Rockers; Summer Yeo, Edmonton, Edmonton Rockers; Erika Smortchevsky, Vancouver, Capilanos (B.C.); Sommer Christie, Montreal, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que.; Kelly McCallum, Vancouver, Sydney University (Australia); Julie Foster, Regina, Regina Breakers.