Seattle Seawolves Defeat Canada Selects 54-7
Seattle put in their 1st team players against the Canada Selects a team composed of Pacific Pride and BC Premier players. The Seawolves went out to a 40-0 half time lead but the Selects kept it close in the 2nd half 14-7.
The inside centre Kriel scored first for Seattle, the fullback Rossouw added a hat trick of tries during the match, scrum half Smith added one, as did hooker Malcolm and loosehead prop Orr, a final try was added by Ryan Rees who wasn’t listed in the match day 23. Talon McMullin scored for the Selects.
Canada Selects vs Seattle Seawolves Rosters Announced for Tonight’s Match
The rosters have been announced for tonight’s game, Canada Selects vs Seattle Seawolves. Seattle have made almost wholesale changes to their starting lineup that faced the Pacific Pride with only tighthead Sam Matenga, lock Rhyno Herbst, outside centre Pite Lopeti and winger Ina Futi keeping their spots. For Canada Selects only lock James Stockwood and loose forward Matt Klimchuk retain a starting role.
The Selects have gone with Josh Thiel at #10 and Kobe Faust at fullback. The centres are the McMullin brothers as anticipated, Izzak Kelly is second row, tighthead is Bryce Worden, hooker is Jacob Bossi, #8 is Siaki Vikilani, Matt Klimchuk is openside, Crosby Stewart is scrum half, D’Shawn Bowen on the wing as predicted. What we didn’t predict was Thomas Davidson going blindside instead of second row, Griffin Phillipson getting the start at loosehead and James Stockwood returning as starting second row. In the backs Jack McCarthy gets the start ahead of Kainoa Lloyd who isn’t even in the reserves. McCarthy was impressive in the University championships in November but Lloyd is built for this type of physical opposition so it’s surprising not to see him on the bench, possibly an injury situation?
Kickoff is 7pm, there’s no live stream but the Seattle Seawolves Twitter account will be providing updates.
Canada Selects Announce 31 Player Squad for Match with Seattle Seawolves on Wednesday
The Canada Selects have announced a list of 31 players to prepare for the match against Seattle Seawolves on Wednesday evening although it’s unclear how many will see game time since “extended rosters” will be in effect.
Most of the starting Pride forwards from Friday’s match are in the squad, including the front row Miller, Mace, Matchem, 2nd row James Stockwood, loose forwards Ben James and Von Richardson. In the backs the halfbacks Kilgour and Thiel stay as does the outside centre Kyle Tremblay. From the reserves front row Austin Creighton and Griffin Philipson stay, as does Matt Klimchuk at loose forward, none of the reserve backs made the cut.
An interesting selection is Colton Mocon, he’s a 315lb UBC football player, offensive lineman, with limited rugby experience. In 2022 his local newspaper in Ontario, the Bracebridge Examiner, did an article on him and he talked about his experience playing with the Atlantic U19 team and winning bronze at the nationals, “It was a surreal experience being a first-year kid with not much rugby knowledge being able to play in the nationals”.
A possible starting XV might look like this.
1. Sam Miller
2. Jacob Bossi
3. Bryce Worden
4. Izzak Kelly
5. Thomas Davidson
6. Jake Thiel
7. Matt Klimchuk
8. Siaki Vikilani
9. Crosby Stewart
10. Mark Balaski
11. D’Shawn Bowen
12. Talon McMullin
13. Takoda McMullin
14. Kainoa Lloyd
15. Josh Thiel
from Rugby Canada
Thirty-one players have been named to the Canada Selects squad preparing to play the MLR’s Seattle Seawolves on Wednesday February 21 at Starfire Sports Complex, the home of the two-time MLR champions. Players will travel to Seattle this week following training camp in Langford, with Wednesday’s match providing a quality competition opportunity for emerging national team players.
Amongst the 31, which has representation from eight provinces, are six players who played for Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team in 2022 and/or 2023. Four players join the squad from Canada’s men’s sevens program: Jake Thiel, Liam Bowman, Kobe Faust and Jack McCarthy. Six players competed with university programs in the fall, five of whom played in the 2023 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship.
Kainoa Lloyd, Izzak Kelly, Siaki Vikilani, Josh Thiel and Matt Klimchuk will bring senior international experience to the group, with Vikilani set to captain the team. Also named to the squad is D’Shawn Bowen, who has played for Canada A and Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team.
Included in the squad are 12 players who also competed in Friday evening’s practice game between the Pacific Pride Academy and the Seattle Seawolves. This includes Griffin Phillipson, who had been slated to join the Toronto Arrows in January and recently joined the Pacific Pride.
The Canada Selects will play on Wednesday with an expanded roster, which will be announced on Rugby Canada’s social media accounts (@rugbycanada).
Tickets are available for purchase here. A buy one, get one free ticket offer is available for Canadian fans here. While a livestream will not be available, fans are encouraged to follow the Seattle Seawolves on social media (@seawolvesrugby) for updates and more information.
FORWARDS
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Pacific Pride
Ben James (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Pacific Pride
Braden Bruce (Buckhorn, ON) – Peterborough Pagans / Pacific Pride
Bryce Worden (Saint John, NB) – Burnaby Lake Rugby club
Colton Mocon (Bracebridge, ON) – University of British Columbia
Griffin Phillipson (Ballymena, NIR) – Pacific Pride
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Spotswood United RFC
Jacob Bossi (Victoria, BC) – University of British Columbia / Spotswood United RFC / Vancouver Highlanders
Jake Thiel (Victoria, BC) – James Bay AA
James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
Matthew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) – Regina Rogues / Pacific Pride/ Vancouver Highlanders
Sam Mace (Kingston, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Pacific Pride / Vancouver Highlanders
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride
Siaki Vikilani (Vancouver, BC) – Burnaby Lake RFC / The American Raptors
Thomas Davidson (Chelsea, QC) – Castaway Wanderers / Vancouver Highlanders
Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC
Von Richardson (Manteca, CA) – Abbotsford / Chilliwack RFC / Pacific Pride
BACKS
Crosby Stewart (Prince Rupert, BC) – James Bay AA
D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) – James Bay AA / Vancouver Highlanders
Jack McCarthy (St. John’s, NL) – Memorial University
Jacob Bourne (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
James Thiel (Abbotsford, BC) – Pacific Pride / Abbotsford RFC / Vancouver Highlanders
Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride
Josh Thiel (Victoria, BC) – James Bay AA/ Vancouver Highlanders
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – Queen’s University / Houston SaberCats
Kobe Faust (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Gryphons
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride
Liam Bowman (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders
Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride
Takoda McMullin (Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
Talon McMullin (Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders