Canada Add Four Names to Touring Squad for Wales and England Tests
Injuries have forced head coach Kingsley Jones to make 2 changes to the 30 player squad, he’s also named 2 extra players for a total of 32 on tour.
Matt Heaton and Spencer Jones have been ruled out due to injury. The loss of Heaton, in particular, will have an impact as he, along with Lucas Rumball, were the on form, and likely starting, flankers.
Heaton has been replaced by Don Carson from UBC. Carson has played second row and blindside flanker at UBC. Talking to coaches, he’s a hard worker and puts in the time and effort to perfect his craft. He’s also gone the extra step to play Rugby League in the off season in BC which has helped him develop. Hopefully he’ll see some game time.
Replacing Spencer Jones is Cooper Coats from the 7s squad. Usually Coats plays #10 at the club level in XVs so it will be interesting to see how he is used if selected on the match day 23.
Siaki Vikilani who recently went from the Pacific Pride to the Toronto Arrows was selected as one of the extra 2 players, both additions are loose forwards. The other player selected is Corey Thomas from the LA Giltinis, he can also play second row. Both were recently on the injured list for their respective MLR teams and must have passed their latest fitness evaluation.
Another Pacific Pride product, Mason Flesch, would have also been considered but perhaps Vikilani and Thomas bring more physicality to the contact area, something Jones may be factoring in as they go up against Wales and England.
Reflecting on the RWC 2019 repechage, Jones didn’t select all the players on tour, he stayed with his trusted group. It will be interesting to see if his attitude has changed. It’s a different goal this time, not RWC qualification but preparation for a long qualification process. Will he be more receptive to “blooding” new players this time, it would make sense.
Next up will be the announcement of the match day 23 to take on Wales.
from Rugby Canada
June 29, 2021 (Langford, BC) Head coach Kingsley Jones has named an updated 32-man squad that has travelled to the UK for two test matches against Wales and England.
Two players originally named to the team, Matt Heaton and Spencer Jones, have been forced to withdraw due to injury. Coming into the side are Donald Carson and Cooper Coats. These players join Siaki Vikilani and Corey Thomas, who were additional selections from the originally named 30-man roster. In addition, assistant coach Phil Mack will be joining the squad on Wednesday following the birth of his child. Phil will work alongside Senior Assistant Coach Rob Howley and forwards coach Jamie Cudmore.
Canada will first play Wales on July 3rd at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The following week on July 10th Canada will face England at Twickenham Stadium in London. Jones will use these games against two of the worlds top sides as preparation for upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification matches this Fall.
Working in conjunction with the WRU and RFU, Rugby Canada is pleased to confirm that both UK Tour matches will be broadcast live in Canada on DAZN. Canadian rugby fans can visit DAZN.com or click here for more information on how to watch Canadas UK Tour presented by DHL and other 2021 Summer Internationals.
CANADAS MENS RUGBY TEAMS 32 PLAYER UK TOUR ROSTER:
Forwards:
Lucas Albornoz – Burnaby, BC – Houston SaberCats
Donald Carson – Delta, BC – University of British Columbia
Foster Dewitt – Courtenay, BC – RC National Development Academy
Eric Howard – Ottawa, ON – NOLA Gold
Jake Ilnicki – Williams Lake, BC – Seattle Seawolves
Cole Keith – Sussex, NB – Toronto Arrows
Conor Keys – Stittsville, ON – Rugby ATL
Josh Larsen – Parksville, BC – New England Free Jacks
Liam Murray – Langley, BC – Houston SaberCats
Reegan O’Gorman – Vancouver, BC – Austin Gilgronis
Andrew Quattrin – Holland Landing, ON – Toronto Arrows
Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Arrows
Lucas Rumball – Scarborough, ON – Toronto Arrows
Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville, ON – Seattle Seawolves
Michael Smith – White Rock, BC – San Diego Legion
Corey Thomas – Perth, AU – LA Giltinis
Siaki Vikilani – Vancouver, BC – Toronto Arrows
Backs:
Ross Braude – Pretoria, SA – Toronto Arrows
Cooper Coats – Halifax, NS – Canada Mens 7s Team
Cole Davis – Calgary, AB – Austin Gilgronis
Doug Fraser – Ladysmith, BC – Old Glory DC
Fraser Hurst – Vancouver, BC – Utah Warriors
Will Kelly – Ancaster, ON – Toronto Arrows
Lachlan Kratz – Victoria, BC – NOLA Gold
Benjamin LeSage – Calgary, AB – Toronto Arrows
Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga, ON – RC National Development Academy
Peter Nelson – Dungannon, UK – Mont de Mason
Quinn Ngawati – Victoria, BC – Rugby United New York
Isaac Olson – Vernon, BC – RC National Development Academy
Patrick Parfrey – St. John’s, NL – Toronto Arrows
Will Percillier – Victoria, BC – Stade Francais
Robbie Povey – Calgary, AB – Houston SaberCats