TORONTO - Tyson Beukeboom is leaving rugby with a Canadian record, two World Cup silver medals and no desire to take another hit.
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Beukeboom → leave → hit
The 35-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., announced her retirement Friday after 13 years with Canada’s women’s team, ending a career that saw her earn 84 international caps — more than any other Canadian rugby player, male or female.
A veteran of four Rugby World Cups, Beukeboom helped Canada reach the final in 2014 and again in September 2025, when the Canadians fell 33-13 to England in what would be her final appearance.
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what → announce → England
Despite the disappointment of that defeat, Beukeboom said she was ready to walk away from the sport she still loves.
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she → say → sport
“I kept playing because I still loved it, and I still do.
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I → keep → it
I wanted to continue loving the game after I was done playing,” Beukeboom said in a statement released by Rugby Canada.
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Beukeboom → want → Canada
“I didn’t want rugby to push me out; I wanted to choose when my time was up.”
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time → want → me
The six-foot-two second-row forward made her international debut against England in July 2013 and went on to become a fixture on the Canadian team.
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forward → make → team
She also helped Canada win the Pacific Four Series title in 2024.
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Canada → help → 2024
Known for her physical presence, Beukeboom said she was happy to step away from the punishment that comes with the sport.
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that → know → sport
“I love the physicality of the sport, and I love being someone that brought that physicality and really made a statement with it, but I’m also so happy to not hit anyone, or get hit ever again,” she said.
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she → love → anyone
I think I’m just honoured to be a part of such a pivotal moment in women’s sport, women’s rugby, and Canadian women’s rugby.”
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I → think → sport
Physicality runs in the family.
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Physicality → run → family
Her father, Jeff Beukeboom, was a hard-hitting NHL defenceman who won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers.
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who → hit → Oilers
Her club career included stops with Cowichan RFC in British Columbia and the Aurora Barbarians in Ontario.
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career → include → Ontario
Beukeboom also played professionally in England with the Ealing Trailfinders.
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Beukeboom → play → Trailfinders
Canadian head coach Kevin Rouet praised her bruising approach and understanding of the game, describing her as “violent on defence, but smart on offence.”
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Rouet → praise → offence
Beukeboom said Canada’s run to last year’s World Cup final was a defining moment for a team that had spent years building toward competing with the world’s best.
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that → say → world
“I think that, through that tournament alone, we made a massive, massive statement and made a name for ourselves around the world,” she said.
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she → think → world
“The Canadian women’s team has been building toward that point for a long time, and it’s an honour to now be part of that legacy.”
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it → build → legacy
Her retirement comes as Canada plays a pair of rematches against England on Friday at BMO Field in Toronto and Oct. 23 at TD Place in Ottawa.
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Canada → come → Ottawa
The two countries fought to a 26-26 draw in Exeter, England, on Sept. 19, ending the Red Roses’ 39-game winning streak.
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countries → fight → streak
The upcoming matches mark Canada’s first home appearances since reaching the World Cup final, with more than 18,000 fans expected for Friday’s contest in Toronto.
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fans → mark → Toronto
Beukeboom said she hopes the squad’s accomplishments will be remembered long after her individual records are surpassed.
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records → say → ?
“People will forget my story, specifically, but I don’t think anyone’s going to forget our team.
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anyone → forget → team
The one thing I will say to my teammates is that as much as I don’t really miss playing, I do miss playing with them.”
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I → say → them
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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