From Concordia to the Women’s Rugby World Cup: Alex Tessier captains Team Canada
When Alex Tessier, BComm 19, found out she would be captain of the Canadian team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, held in England last September, she couldn’t process the news at first.
“I was overwhelmed and shocked because of the magnitude of the role, and it took me a bit of time to tell everyone,” Tessier recalls. “Calling my mom about it made me so emotional, it was a beautiful moment she shared.”
A national team member since 2017 and former Concordia Stingers star, Tessier led her team to a runner-up finish against eventual champion and host England. It was the team’s best result in the past 10 years.
“Even though the finish wasn’t exactly what we hoped for, it was such an enjoyable experience and it was great to see my family and supporters at every game,” says Tessier, who plays professional rugby in the United Kingdom for the Exeter Chiefs.
Tessier and her teammates made history in the semifinals, stunning six-time champions New Zealand Black Ferns 34-19 to reach Canada’s first World Cup final since 2014. The victory ended New Zealand’s eight-year reign as world champion and was only the third time the Black Ferns had ever lost in World Cup history. Tessier scored a crucial try early in the second half to extend Canada’s lead and help secure the win.
With her third Rugby World Cup behind her, Tessier is now preparing for the upcoming club season with Exeter.
“Compared to my first World Cup in 2017, I’m a more mature player, more of a playmaker,” she says, “and I feel like I’m the glue for the back line.”
‘I can see rugby continuing to grow in this country’
Growing up in a small town outside Trois-Rivières, Que., Tessier tried almost every sport, from soccer to baseball to basketball. When a friend introduced her to the Montreal Barbarians Rugby Club, the sport instantly clicked.
“At first, I didn’t know what I was doing, but I loved it and have never looked back,” she says. “I like the physical side of rugby but also the social aspect, how we all go for drinks after a game, even with our opponents.”
“Even though the finish wasn’t exactly what we hoped for, it was such an enjoyable experience and it was great to see my family and supporters at every game,” says Tessier of Team Canada’s second-place finish at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in September.
She found a home for her passion at Concordia, playing for the Stingers. Tessier was an instant sensation on the field, earning the 2013 RSEQ Rookie of the Year award, 2014 RSEQ Player of the Year and being named an RSEQ All-Star four times from 2013 to 2016.
Her Concordia connections continue to influence her play on the national stage. Her Canadian teammate Laetitia Royer played at Concordia from 2016 to 2018, and Jocelyn Barrieau, assistant coach of the national team, previously coached Concordia’s women’s rugby team.
Tessier says of Barrieau, “She’s the kind of person I can talk to about on-field and off-field issues. She helps keep me grounded and has been a constant presence in my life.”
Rugby’s popularity is surging, Tessier says, evident not only in how TSN, CTV and CBC now showcase national games, but also in how Canada’s remarkable upset of New Zealand produced viral moments shared widely on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
“I can see rugby continuing to grow in this country — I’ve seen how even small towns across Quebec have their own rugby clubs now.”