Belleville’s Sara Svoboda made her 20th appearance for the Canadian women’s national rugby team in a record-setting contest against New Zealand Saturday in Ottawa.
More than 10,000 spectators filed into TD Place for the Pacific Four Series battle between the No. 1 world-ranked Black Ferns of New Zealand and No. 4 Canada, establishing a new attendance record for a women’s rugby match in Canada.
Svoboda, who started her rugby career at Centennial Secondary School and the Belleville Bulldogs, was the first player off the bench for Canada, seeing action in the second half at flanker. Canada was defeated, 52-21.
The Canadians host Australia Friday at 7 p.m. at TD Place.
