Canada Men’s XV List for Belgium and Spain Pruned Down to 33 Players
And then there were 33. Coach Steve Meehan has pruned 11 players from his list of 42 and added 2 that weren’t on the previous list. It’s unlikely all 33 will see action in the two matches, Belgium on July 12th and Spain on July 18th. The Belgium match will be the easier of the two and where you would expect some new caps to be awarded. Belgium lost to the USA last weekend 36-16, 6 tries to 2.
Forwards Dropped
Caleb Ashworth (Crowborough, ENG) – Crowborough RFC / Harlequins FC
Griffin Phillipson (Ballymoney, NI) – Ballymoney RFC / City of Armagh RFC
James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Oshawa Vikings
Jeffrey Young (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads
Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / NOLA Gold
Karl Hunger (Beaconsfield, QC) – Beaconsfield RFC / Pacific Pride
Backs Dropped
Ethan Turner (Maple Ridge, BC) – Burnaby Lake Rugby Club / Kalinga Black Tigers
Josh McIndoe (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Greerton Marist Rugby Club
Luke Toroca (Nadi, FIJ) – Sabeto Rugby Club / Langley Rugby Club
Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) – Toronto City Rugby / University of Victoria
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Lake Macquarie Roos / Utah Warriors
Added in were 2 backs:
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – (Scarborough, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph
If you look at the last match Canada played under Kingsley Jones, 10 of the 15 starters, could be in the mix again. Some are missing due to injury, not being available or not being selected. Missing due to injury is tighthead Conor Young, his backup in November was Tyler Matchem, he may get the start. Cali Martinez and Andrew Quattrin look to be good bets to start again.
The second row will look different with Evan Olmstead making himself available, he’s likely to get a start, for sure in the Spain match. James Stockwood wasn’t selected and Mason Flesch could be used at blindside flanker. Izzak Kelly and Callum Botchar were in the reserves last November, they could move up to a starting role. Piers Von Dadelszen also will be looking for a spot in the match 23.
The loose forwards will definitely see Lucas Rumball returning, likely at #8. Sion Parry and Matt Heaton are again available, Matt Oworu and Don Carson will be vying for spots.
The halfbacks could be the same Brock Gallagher and Peter Nelson, it’s a bit disappointing there hasn’t been an attempt to find a new #10. It’s possible Cooper Coats and Peter Nelson could switch roles. The only other #10 possibilities would be the 7s players, Brendan Black and Jamie Armstrong, who played university rugby at flyhalf, but that would be a long shot.
In the centres Noah Flesch could return to the #12 role and Ben Lesage is likely getting the start at outside centre. In the back three Cooper Coats seems a certainty, both Andrew Coe and Nic Benn are missing from selection, they were the starting wings last time Canada played. Isaac Olson, Josiah Morra, or one of the 7s players could get the start out wide. Surprising that Morgan di Nardo didn’t make the cut. The Australian Maddox MacLean may have the coach’s eye as well.
Expect the match 23 to be announced Thursday or Friday.
Canada Roster vs Romania in November 2024
1. Calixto Martinez
2. Andrew Quattrin
3. Conor Young
4. James Stockwood
5. Mason Flesch
6. Matt Heaton
7. Siôn Parry
8. Lucas Rumball
9. Brock Gallagher
10. Peter Nelson
11. Nic Benn
12. Noah Flesch
13. Mitch Richardson
14. Andrew Coe
15. Cooper Coats
16. Jesse Mackail
17. Sam Miller
18. Tyler Matchem
19. Callum Botchar
20. Izzak Kelly
21. Matthew Oworu
22. Jesse Kilgour
23. Rhys James
33 Player Canada Selection for Belgium and Spain
Forwards
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA
Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA / NOLA Gold
Cole Keith (Sussex NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Donald Carson (Tsawwassen, BC) – UBCOB Ravens / Britannia Lions
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, BC) – Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen
Foster Dewitt (Courtenay, BC) – New England Free Jacks / Westshore RFC
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach Rugby Club / Chicago Hounds
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pictou County Rugby Club / NOLA Gold
Backs
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph
Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Jamie Armstrong (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish / University of Ottawa
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – (Scarborough, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Pacific Pride
Maddox MacLean (Brisbane, AUS) – Souths Rugby Club Brisbane
Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NI) – Dungannon RFC
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia
Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
from Rugby Canada
Monday July 7, 2025 (Edmonton, AB) – Thirty-three players have been named to Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s squad by Head Coach Stephen Meehan for July’s test matches in Edmonton. Canada will play Belgium on July 12 at 5:00pm MT and Spain on July 18 at 7:00pm MT, both at Edmonton’s Clarke Stadium. Both matches will also be available to watch on TSN2 and TSN+.
This announcement comes following a week-long training camp at the University of Alberta, which saw 42 players vying for a spot on the squad.
“We had a very competitive training camp, which I was pleased to see,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “The coaching staff has been impressed by the players’ work ethic, and ability to learn and adapt in high pressure moments. They have continually pushed each other to be better and are eager to continue doing so throughout our time in Edmonton together.”
Captained by Lucas Rumball, the squad includes eight players from the 2025 MLR Championship-winning New England Free Jacks including Andrew Quattrin, Cole Keith, Foster Dewitt, Kyle Steeves, Piers Von Dadelszen, Ben Lesage, Issac Olsen and Josiah Morra. Three Edmontonians have been named as well, Brock Gallagher, Dewald Kotze and Austin Creighton.
Evan Olmstead returns to the squad for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, while Creighton, Emerson Prior, Brendan Black, Jamie Armstrong, Kyle Tremblay, Maddox MacLean and Stephen Webb could earn their first caps for Canada in Edmonton.
Tickets for both matches are available for purchase here. Applications for media accreditation are currently being accepted here.