DaLeaka Menin Wins WXV Player of Week Award Again
The Canadian tight-head secured back-to-back honors after anchoring a 26-26 draw against England with two tries and 18 tackles.
Key points
- DaLeaka Menin was named the Mitsubishi Electric Player of the Week for the second time in a row.
- She scored two tries and made 18 successful tackles in a 26-26 draw against England.
- The Canadian tight-head played the full 80 minutes in her 74th international cap.
Mud clings to the knees as DaLeaka Menin drives forward, her body a blunt instrument against the English defense. The air at Sandy Park is thick with the smell of wet grass and exertion, a sensory backdrop to a match that ended in a 26-26 stalemate. For the second consecutive week, World Rugby has recognized the Canadian front-rower, naming her the Mitsubishi Electric Player of the Week for her relentless physicality.
Her impact transcended the scoreboard. While two tries provided the points, it was the invisible labor in the scrums and at the breakdown that kept Canada afloat. Menin played every one of the 80 minutes, her lungs burning, her muscles screaming, yet her hands never stopped working. This was her 74th cap, a testament to a career built on endurance rather than just explosive speed.
Two Tries in a Fierce Draw
The first score arrived in the 15th minute, a powerful surge that silenced the home crowd and restored Canada’s lead. The second came with seconds ticking down before halftime, a similar display of raw strength that leveled the game at 19 points. In the final ten minutes, Menin became a wall, blocking two separate English attacks that would have broken the deadlock. Her body was the final barrier, absorbing hits that would have sent lesser players flying.
Eighteen successful tackles marked her physical dominance. She did not merely participate; she dictated the rhythm of the close-quarters battle. When England pressed, Menin was there, her hands locking onto jerseys, her feet planted firmly in the turf. It was a performance of sheer will, earning her the Player of the Match nod in a contest where the margins were razor-thin.
Energy from New Faces
Menin speaks of a team in transition, one where fresh energy challenges the veterans. She admits to feeling tired, the weight of the week’s intensity pressing on her shoulders. Yet, she finds joy in the chaos, in the way young players push the boundaries of the game. The crowd at Sandy Park may have been home, but the appreciation for the effort was evident in the roar that followed her final defensive stand.
Coach Kévin Rouet encourages this style, a rugby that fits the team’s identity. Menin is trying to keep up, to match the pace of the newcomers while maintaining her own standard. The WXV Global Series 2026 is more than a tournament; it is a proving ground for a new generation. Two more matches against England remain, and the fatigue is just the beginning of the challenge.
A Challenge Beyond Fatigue
The draw was not the result Canada wanted, but it was a result they earned. Menin’s performance was the anchor, the steady hand in a storm of physical warfare. She did not just play the game; she changed its texture, making it harder, more demanding, and ultimately more compelling. The award from World Rugby is a recognition of that unique contribution, a nod to the unsung heroism of the front row.
As the match ends, the silence that falls over the pitch is heavy with respect. The players walk off, their legs heavy, their minds already turning to the next fixture. Menin’s award is not just a personal triumph; it is a statement about the kind of rugby Canada is playing. It is a rugby of grit, of endurance, and of a refusal to yield, even when the odds are stacked against them.
