Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the Canadian women's rugby 15s team, which, despite their opponents' terrifying haka, won a historic victory last week against former world champions the Black Ferns.
This past Saturday, our players lost to the new world champions, the Red Roses, but not without putting up a stellar fight.
Anyone who has ever played with a Gilbert rugby ball knows that rugby is the ultimate team sport. Victory is impossible without cohesion and chemistry between team members, and our Canadian players demonstrated these qualities in spades both on and off the field.
I want to celebrate the courage and determination of these women, including Sophie de Goede, who will surely inspire an entire generation of young athletes. I thank them. They are Canada's ambassadors.