Canada Name 30 Player List for Belgium and Spain Tests This Summer
Kingsley Jones has named his 30 players for the two tests this summer. The good news is that potentially 3 players who played for Canada West in the Coast to Coast Cup may get to represent this summer. We say potentially because Jones does have a history of selecting players on the long list and then they don’t get in the match day 23 over a series of games.
The three Canada West players are Gradyn Bowd, Callum Botchar and Dawson Fatoric. Bowd was almost a certainty by the way he played for Canada West, then hopped over to the Ravens for the Americas Challenge series. Factor in that Canada have a dearth of international level #10s at the present and it’s no surprise to see him in the list of 30. Will he get to start against Belgium is the big question, or at least get the second half? Callum Botchar did well in the Coast to Coast Cup and again Canada doesn’t have a locked in #8. Likely Corey Thomas will start, Luke Campbell is an option but Callum Botchar and Matthew Oworu are exciting possibilites that need to be tested at this level. Dawson Fatoric is the wild card, we didn’t predict that, but again Canada are missing an evasive inside centre who can unlock defenses with a step. Young Max Stewart might have been a guess but perhaps by next summer. We would have liked to see one of the Canada West props selected as well, Cali Martinez comes to mind but Willem den Ouden and Kyle Steeves shone in the series as well.
If you look at the roster Jones selected for the Belgium test in November 2021, you could see him duplicating that with his selections this time around. He does seem to be a creature of habit when it comes to selections, something that may have let him down in the Chile series. Here is the roster for the Belgium 2021 match, we struck through the names of those injured or not available and the result is likely a good bet for match day 23 for Belgium and Spain 2022.
Canada v Belgium November 2021
1. Cole Keith
2. Andrew Quattrin
3. Tyler Rowland
4. Conor Keys
5. Kyle Baillie N/A Josh Larsen moved from the bench to start
6. Lucas Rumball
7. Michael Smith
8. Corey Thomas
9. Jason Higgins
10. Spencer Jones N/A so Bowd, Nelson
11. Kainoa Lloyd
12. Quinn Ngawati
13. Ben LeSage
14. Isaac Olson with Cooper Coats back, Webster likely takes wing and Olson to bench
15. Brock Webster Cooper Coats with Webster moving to wing
16. Eric Howard N/A so McRogers, Stevens
17. Djustice Sears-Duru
18. Foster DeWitt N/A so Ilnicki, Murray
19. Josh Larsen Moved to starter, reserve to be Carson, Campbell
20. Mason Flesch N/A so Campbell, Botchar, Oworu
21. Ross Braude
22. Rob Povey
23. Lachlan Kratz N/A so reserve back Olson, Fatoric, Fraser
Some MLR First XV selections who are not in the squad O’Gorman, Ciulini, Sheppard, Heaton (injured), Penny (injured). Also disappointing to see the young European players Duguid and Percillier not listed in the unavailable players. Will it require a coaching change to bring some of these talented young players back into selection consideration?
CANADAS SENIOR MENS 15s SQUAD FOR TEST MATCHES VERSUS BELGIUM AND SPAIN
Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) Castaway Wanderers
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) UBC
Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) Toronto Arrows – MLR First XV Week 4,15
Luke Campbell (Victoria, BC) Old Glory FC
Donald Carson (Delta, BC) UBC
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) Halifax Tars
Dawson Fatoric (Ottawa, ON) Pacific Pride
Doug Fraser (Ladysmith, BC) Old Glory FC
Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) San Diego Legion – MLR First XV Week 16
Jake Ilnicki (Williams Lake, BC) Old Glory FC
Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) Toronto Arrows – – MLR First XV Week 10, 11
Conor Keys (Stittsbille, Ottawa, ON) Rugby Atlanta – MLR First XV Week 9
Josh Larsen (Nanaimo, BC) New England Free Jacks
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) LA Giltinis
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) San Diego Legion
Jack McRogers (Newmarket, ON) Toronto Arrows – MLR First XV Week 15
Liam Murray (Langley, BC) Dallas Jackals
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) Aurillac
Quinn Ngawati (Victoria, BC) Rugby United New York
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) New England Free Jacks
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) Pacific Pride
Robert Povey (Oxford, UK) Houston Sabercats
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) Toronto Arrows – MLR First XV Week 3,4,9
Tyler Rowland (Mississauga, ON) Toronto Arrows
Lucas Rumball (Markham, ON) Toronto Arrows – MLR First XV Week 3,16
Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) LA Giltinis – – MLR First XV Week 4
Michael Smith (White Rock, BC) San Diego Legion – MLR First XV Week 4,16
Lindsey Stevens (Sydney, Australia) – LA Giltinis
Corey Thomas (Broome, Australia) LA Giltinis
Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) Oshawa Vikings
from Rugby Canada
As summer fixtures, presented by DHL, against Belgium and Spain draw nearer, Canadas Senior Mens 15s Head Coach Kingsley Jones has named his 30-man squad for the double header.
Canada host Belgium at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, NS on Saturday, July 2 followed by Spain at TD Place in Ottawa, ON – marking the first time a senior international test match has been played at the venue – on Sunday, July 10.
Click here to purchase tickets for the match against Belgium in Halifax and here for the game against Spain in Ottawa.
Jones squad includes several crossover athletes from Canadas Senior Mens Sevens program with Cooper Coats, Matthew Oworu and Brock Webster all receiving callups having featured on the HSBC Sevens Series this season.
Following the inaugural Coast to Coast Cup, which provided Jones the chance to scout national talent, standout performers Gradyn Bowd, Callum Botchar and Dawson Fatoric have been rewarded with a place in the squad. Meanwhile, Jack McRogers who was noticed thanks to his exploits with Major League Rugbys Toronto Arrows is part of his first senior national squad. Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage will act as team captains.
These test matches against Belgium and Spain provide us with the perfect opportunity to get game time with the carrot of important world rankings points being on the line, commented Jones. The squad is looking forward to playing in front of home crowds in Halifax and Ottawa, which we are sure will be loud and proud.
He added: We are missing some players through injury. However, its important we find balance and this is a chance to bring some young players into the fold, especially as we build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification process. We know what we can get from our senior players, so its great to provide a platform to some up-and-comers who have really earned their opportunity.
CANADAS SENIOR MENS 15s SQUAD FOR TEST MATCHES VERSUS BELGIUM AND SPAIN
Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) Castaway Wanderers
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) UBC
Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) Toronto Arrows
Luke Campbell (Victoria, BC) Old Glory FC
Donald Carson (Delta, BC) UBC
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) Halifax Tars
Dawson Fatoric (Ottawa, ON) Pacific Pride
Doug Fraser (Ladysmith, BC) Old Glory FC
Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) San Diego Legion
Jake Ilnicki (Williams Lake, BC) Old Glory FC
Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) Toronto Arrows
Conor Keys (Stittsbille, Ottawa, ON) Rugby Atlanta
Josh Larsen (Nanaimo, BC) New England Free Jacks
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) LA Giltinis
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) San Diego Legion
Jack McRogers (Newmarket, ON) Toronto Arrows
Liam Murray (Langley, BC) Dallas Jackals
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) Aurillac
Quinn Ngawati (Victoria, BC) Rugby United New York
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) New England Free Jacks
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) Pacific Pride
Robert Povey (Oxford, UK) Houston Sabercats
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) Toronto Arrows
Tyler Rowland (Mississauga, ON) Toronto Arrows
Lucas Rumball (Markham, ON) Toronto Arrows
Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) LA Giltinis
Michael Smith (White Rock, BC) San Diego Legion
Lindsey Stevens (Sydney, Australia) – LA Giltinis
Corey Thomas (Broome, Australia) LA Giltinis
Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) Oshawa Vikings
INJURED OR UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
Foster Dewitt
Eric Howard
Kyle Baillie
Matt Beukeboom
Mason Flesch
Matt Heaton
Nakai Penny
Tyler Ardron
Siaki Vikilani
Shane OLeary
Brennig Prevost
Spencer Jones
David Richard
DShawn Bowen
Matt Tierney
Andrew Coe
Jake Thiel
Phil Berna
Lachlan Kratz
Alex Russell
CANADAS SENIOR MENS 15s SUMMER FIXTURE SCHEDULE
July 2: Canada vs. Belgium Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, NS (Kick-off 4:00 p.m. ADT)
July 10: Canada vs. Spain TD Place, Ottawa, ON (Kick-off 4:00 p.m. ET)
Addendum – RWCQ Rosters vs Chile
Chile 2nd Test RWCQ 2021
1. Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville, ON – Unattached
2. Eric Howard – Ottawa, ON – NOLA Gold
3. Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON Toronto Arrows
4. Corey Thomas – Perth, Western AUS – LA Giltinis
5. Kyle Baillie – Summerside, PEI – NOLA Gold
6. Tyler Ardron – Peterbourough, ON – Castres Olympique
7. Lucas Rumball – Markham, ON – Toronto Arrows (C)
8. Siaki Vikilani – Burnaby, BC – Toronto Arrows
9. Ross Braude – Pretoria, SA – Toronto Arrows
10. Peter Nelson – Dungannon, UK – Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne
11. Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga, ONT – James Bay AA
12. Spencer Jones – Cambridge, NZ – Toronto Arrows
13. Ben LeSage – Calgary, AB – Toronto Arrows
14. Brock Webster – Uxbridge, ON – Canada Rugby 7’s
15. Patrick Parfrey – St. Johns, NL – Toronto Arrows/Swilers RFC
16. Andrew Quattrin – Holland Landing, ON – Toronto Arrows
17. Cole Keith – Sussex, NB – Toronto Arrows
18. Matt Tierney Oakville, ON Castres Olympique
19. Conor Keys – Stittsville, ON – Rugby ATL
20. Michael Smith – White Rock, BC – San Diego Legion
21. Rob Povey Long Buckby, UK – Houston SaberCats
22. Jason Higgins – Cork, IRE – Toronto Arrows
23. Quinn Ngawati – Victoria, BC – RUNY
Chile 1st Test RWCQ 2021
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, Oakville, Ont., unattached
2 Eric Howard, Ottawa, NOLA Gold (MLR)
3 Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON Toronto Arrows
4 Corey Thomas, Perth, Australia, Los Angeles Giltinis (MLR)
5 Kyle Baillie, Summerside, P.E.I., NOLA Gold (MLR)
6 Lucas Rumball (capt.), Markham, Ont., Toronto Arrows (MLR)
7 Matt Heaton, Godmanchester, Que., Rugby ATL (MLR)
8 Siaki Vikilani, Burnaby, B.C., Toronto Arrows (MLR)
9 Ross Braude, Pretoria, South Africa, Toronto Arrows (MLR)
10 Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Stade Aurillacois (France)
11 Kainoa Lloyd, Mississauga, Ont., James Bay AA
12 Spencer Jones, Cambridge, New Zealand. Toronto Arrows (MLR)
13 Ben LeSage, Calgary, Toronto Arrows (MLR)
14 Brock Webster, Uxbridge, Ont., Canada Sevens
15 Cooper Coats, Halifax, Canada Sevens.
16 Andrew Quattrin, Holland Landing, Ont., Toronto Arrows (MLR)
17 Cole Keith, Apohaqui, N.B., Toronto Arrows (MLR)
18 Jake Ilnicki, Williams Lake, B.C., unattached
19 Conor Keys, Stittsvile, Ont., Rugby ATL (MLR)
20 Michael Smith, White Rock, B.C., San Diego Legion (MLR)
21 Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, Toronto Arrows (MLR)
22 Rob Povey, Long Buckly, England, Houston Sabercats (MLR)
23 Patrick Parfrey, St. Johns, N.L., Toronto Arrows (MLR).