Canada Men’s XVs – June Updates

Stephen Meehan Names 42 Players for Edmonton Camp Prior to Belgium Match

On June 12th there was a 59 player extended squad announced, that has further been reduced to 42 players for the pre-match camp and the final 32 player list will be announced in July. There are some big names missing from the original 59 player list, just in the backs Andrew Coe, Spencer Jones, Shane O’Leary, Josiah Morra aren’t on the list, they would have been contenders for starting spots. Mark Balaski, Tiarnan Neville are missing so the #10 selection gets narrowed down. The forwards are less affected with most of the projected starters present.

There’s some anticipation at who will get the starting #10 role, and with several names missing, it’s looking like Peter Nelson may retain that role. In the mix would be Cooper Coats and Josh McIndoe, also Ethan Turner who played #10 for Burnaby in the BC Premier. The other part of the halfback combination comes down to Jason Higgins, Brock Gallagher, Stephen Webb.

With Spencer Jones missing who will pair up with Ben Lesage, the likely candidate for outside centre. Talon McMullin, Josh McIndoe, Noah Flesch are possibles, the 7s players Jamie Armstrong, Kyle Tremblay, Ethan Turner. Who has the distribution skills as second five-eighth?

In the back three Cooper Coats would be a certainty at fullback unless he’s called into #10. Nic Benn, Isaac Olson, Morgan di Nardo, or one of the 7s players could fill the wing positions.

There’s a new player, Luke Toroca, Fijian born plays in BC Div 1, his Linkedin says for Abbotsford but the Rugby Canada list says Langley. He also lists time with the Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team. He shows up once in our story database, playing for the Valley Venom at #13 in the 2022 McKechnie Cup.

In the forwards Andrew Quattrin and Dewald Kotze look front runners, Jesse Mackail was dropped from the list of 59, Foster Dewitt, Austin Creighton and Jeffrey Young are still in the mix.

At prop, the main contenders remain Cali Martinez, Tyler Matchem, Cole Keith, Emerson Prior, Kyle Steeves. Bryce Worden, Sam Miller, Evan Roy are gone. Caleb Ashworth, Griffin Phillipson are still in the mix.

In the second row Evan Olmstead should be a certainty, joining him could be Callum Botchar, Izzak Kelly, James Stockwood, Piers Von Dadelszen, Kaden Duguid, Karl Hunger or Donald Carson. There are a lot of second row choices in the 42.

In the loose forwards, two positions are probably a given, Lucas Rumball at #8 and Mason Flesch at blindside flanker. Matt Heaton would be early favourite for openside with Ethan Fryer missing. Matt Oworu, Sion Parry, or one of the second row hopefuls may find a spot in the loose forwards.

In the coaching staff, good to see Phil Mack still part of the coaching team, focusing on defence. Anthony Mathison was brought in by Meehan, an Australian, here’s a blurb from Wiki, “Anthony Mathison (born 27 April 1981) is an Australian former professional rugby union player. Mathison was born in Brisbane and educated at Marist College Ashgrove. A prop, Mathison represented Australian Schools, U-19s and U-21s. He established a place in the Queensland Reds front row during the 2004 Super 12 season and was in the Wallabies squad for the 2005 tour of Europe, making an uncapped appearance against the French Barbarians. Mathison coached GPS to the 2018 Queensland Premier Rugby championship title.”

Canada’s first match is July 12th against Belgium.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM EDMONTON TRAINING CAMP

FORWARDS

Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA
Caleb Ashworth (Crowborough, ENG) – Crowborough RFC / Harlequins FC
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
Griffin Phillipson (Ballymoney, NI) – Ballymoney RFC / City of Armagh RFC
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Capilano 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
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
Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold
Ethan Turner (Maple Ridge, BC) – Burnaby Lake Rugby Club / Kalinga Black Tigers
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
Josh McIndoe (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Greerton Marist Rugby Club
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Pacific Pride
Luke Toroca (Nadi, FIJ) – Sabeto Rugby Club / Langley Rugby Club
Maddox MacLean (Brisbane, AUS) – Souths Rugby Club Brisbane
Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) – Toronto City Rugby / University of Victoria
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Lake Macquarie Roos / Utah Warriors
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

STAFF

Stephen Meehan – Head Coach
Phil Mack – Assistant Coach
Anthony Mathison – Assistant Coach
Gwern James – Head Analyst
Michael Deasy – Head S&C Coach
Lisa Ruggles – Lead Therapist
Alistair Wilson – Assistant Therapist
Dr. Adam Pyle – Team Doctor
Neil MacDougall – Manager

from Rugby Canada

Head Coach Stephen Meehan has named 42 players to Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s training camp in Edmonton ahead of July’s test matches at Clarke Stadium.

The squad will take part in a week-long training camp at the University of Alberta ahead of the first match week, with the team’s final squad of 32 players to be announced in early July. The seven New England Free Jacks players listed below will join the squad following the MLR final, which will see the Free Jacks take on the Houston SaberCats on June 28.

“Players and staff alike are really eager to get on the pitch and get the season started, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with this squad in Edmonton,” said Meehan. “This time together will be extremely valuable as we make our final selections for the July tests and build a strong foundation as we strive towards Rugby World Cup qualification later this year. We have invited a mix of experienced players and new talent and are looking forward to seeing what they each bring to camp.”

Meehan will be joined on the coaching staff in Edmonton by Defence Coach Phil Mack and Restart and Breakdown Coach Anthony Mathison.

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will kick off against Belgium on July 12 at 5:00pm MT and against Spain on July 18 at 7:00pm MT, both at Edmonton’s Clarke Stadium.

Tickets for both matches are available for purchase here. Applications for media accreditation are currently being accepted here. Both matches will be available on TSN2 and TSN+.