In the lead up to Saturday’s epic Rugby World Cup final between Canada and England, there’s been plenty of explanation about the finances of Canadian women’s rugby and how this squad had to close a $1 million funding gap on their own by seeking sponsors and donors.

Up against the fully professional English (Saturday, 8 a.m., TSN), that is clearly a story that must be considered. But underneath the money talk is another story that’s just as important: the snowball effect that past success for Canadian women’s rugby has had on this current squad.

“Look at Caroline Crossley and Sophie De Goede,” former national teamer Julianne Zussman points out. “They’ve been playing on the same team since they were little, since they were seven or eight.”

De Goede, Canada’s superstar and nominated this w

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