Julia Sugawara was part of Canadian rugby history this month in France.
The Surrey native was part of the national team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, where Canada reached the championship game Sunday only to fall 21-9 to England.
Sugawara entered the championship game as a substitute in the second half.
The loss was the lone defeat for Canada in five games at the 12-team tournament. The Canadians defeated Spain 31-5 then topped Samoa 42-7 before playing to a 13-13 tie with England that clinched a playoff position.
Canada then upset undefeated France 18-16 in a semifinal contest.
Canada has played at all six Women’s rugby World Cup tournament, the first of which took place in 1991.
The best performance is fourth place, achieved three times.
Sugawara was a member of Canadian teams which have placed fourth in Edmonton in 2006 and sixth in England in 2010.
