Saracens part ways with Canada lock Royer after title-winning debut season

Saracens have confirmed the departure of Canada international lock Laetitia Royer following a single season in North London that ended with a Premiership Women’s Rugby title.

Royer, 35, joined Saracens after helping Canada reach the final of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and made 10 league appearances during the campaign. She started in the Twickenham Stoop final as Saracens defeated Trailfinders Women to claim the championship.

Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry paid tribute to Royer’s contribution both on and off the field. “Laets was a fantastic addition to the club and made a real impact both on and off the field last season,” he said. “In truth, the only thing that surpassed her contribution on the field was the impact she had off it. Laets will be remembered fondly by players and staff alike for her humour, positivity and the enjoyment she brought to the environment.”

Royer arrives at the end of her Saracens stint with 27 Canada caps to her name and a place in the 2024 World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year — a season in which Canada beat the Black Ferns for the first time and won the Pacific Four Series.

Before moving to England, Royer spent five seasons in France, including time at Lons Section Paloise and ASM Romagnat. Her final appearance before the departure was confirmed came last week, when she played 61 minutes of Canada’s 26-26 WXV Global Series draw with England’s Red Roses at Sandy Park in Exeter.

In a candid farewell statement, Royer reflected on a year that brought both personal highs and quieter challenges. “This season taught me more than I ever expected,” she said. “I leave Saracens knowing I gave honest effort, treated people well and left the environment better than I found it. That was always the standard I set for myself, and I’m proud I met it through a World Cup, through a title, and through the harder, quieter parts of the year that no one sees.”

Royer also hinted at tensions beneath the surface without elaborating. “Not every part of this year’s journey reflected the values I hold myself to, and I’ll leave it there, stated once, plainly, without turning it into more than that. The only constant is change.”