Rugby Canada Formally Announce Three November Tests Against Romania, Georgia, and Portugal
This was information already known to the rugby community but Rugby Canada have made it official with an announcement and some more details. Hopefully it will be a chance for some new players to get evaluated at the international level. The coach’s team selections will give some insight on whether his actions match his words, “also giving opportunities to a few players who weren’t part of the Pacific Nations Cup but could play a key role in our World Cup campaign”. We’ll also be keeping an eye on the assistant coaching situation for the November tour as we’ve heard some rumours about changes there.
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has confirmed three additional international test matches to close out the 2025 calendar year. The team will face Romania, Georgia, and Portugal on tour, with each fixture set to be played in the respective host nation.
These matches will bring Canada’s 2025 total to nine test appearances, offering players valuable experience as the program continues to build toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The European tour will kick off in Romania and marks the squad’s third extended campaign of the year. Earlier this summer, Canada hosted Belgium and Spain in Edmonton before competing in the Pacific Nations Cup, where they faced the United States, Japan, Fiji, and Tonga. Canada finished fourth in the tournament, securing qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in the process.
Canada are the 21st team to punch their tickets for rugby’s pinnacle competition and will take part in their 10th Rugby World Cup, having competed in all editions excluding 2023.
“Our primary goal this year was World Cup qualification, and now that we’ve achieved that, our focus shifts to the two-year window ahead of us. The priority is to be in the best possible shape for 2027. That requires looking at things differently, with new pressures and higher standards,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan.
“This tour is about identifying areas where we can continue to improve our performances while also giving opportunities to a few players who weren’t part of the Pacific Nations Cup but could play a key role in our World Cup campaign. Qualification has created healthy competition within the squad, with more players putting their hands up for selection. Over the next 15 to 18 months, our task is to ensure Canada is as prepared as possible when we take the field in Australia in 2027.”
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Canada and Romania met twice in 2024, with Canada earning a 35–22 victory in Ottawa before Romania responded later in the year with a 35–27 win in the inaugural Cernavodă Cup match in Bucharest.
Canada and Georgia have contested seven test matches, with Canada recording three victories. Notable wins include a 42–10 triumph at the 2009 Churchill Cup and a narrow 16–15 result in a 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match.
Against Portugal, Canada holds a strong record, winning four of five test matches. The most recent meeting came in 2021, when Portugal edged Canada 20–17 to claim their first win in the rivalry.
THE CERNAVODĂ CUP
In the first edition of the Cernavodă Cup, Romania defeated Canada 35-27 in Bucharest. This November, Canada will look to take home the trophy, which honours the remarkable tradition of Romanian-Canadian cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.
For nearly half a century the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, which has two Canadian CANDU reactors, has been at the very heart of the bilateral relationship. It is the biggest and most enduring project that Canada and Romania have ever undertaken together.
The two operational CANDU units at Cernavodă provide Romania with 18% of its total electricity, or one lightbulb in five. They are two of the best-performing reactors in the world and supply safe, secure and affordable electricity while generating zero CO2 emissions.
More information about Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s tour to Europe will be available soon.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Romania – The Cernavodă Cup
Saturday, November 8 2025
7:00am PT / 11:00am ET / 5:00pm Local
Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Georgia
Saturday, November 15, 2025
5:00am PT / 8:00am ET / 4:00pm Local
Ajarabet Arena, Batumi
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Portugal
Saturday, November 22 2025
Time TBD
Location TBD
What about Phil Mack being let go by Rugby Canada? Can this organization do anything right?