Canada v Japan – August 2025

Canada Lose to Japan 57-15: Fail to Get Bonus Point in Loss

Canada missing their two pros from France, Tyler Ardron and Evan Olmstead, aren’t the same team, that is obvious after this match. Canada’s goal was to get a 4 try bonus point, regardless of win or loss, but they fell short and now have to wait for the USA v Japan result next weekend. A Japan win or a USA win without a bonus point will see Canada through to the PNC semis and a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. A USA bonus point win will see Canada start over again, and have to go the long route to RWC qualification.

Canada were in the match 30 minutes in, down 10-7, and a key indicator of their confidence, or lack of, was at 28 minutes when they opted for a kick at goal to tie the match instead of a kick to the corner to go for a 2nd try. The likelihood of staying within 7 points after 80 minutes was slim considering the level of the two teams but they could have replicated last year’s result with 4 tries in a loss, but not when they were opting to kick penalties. Canada tied it up 10-10 but then it was Japan scoring 47 points to 5 for Canada.

Canada’s lineout was working well but without Ardron and Olmstead the maul became maul light and Japan were able to contain it. It may have been a tactical error leaving out a big body like Izzak Kelly in this match. The experience of Andrew Quattrin at hooker was also missed in driving the back of the maul.

All eyes now turn to the USA v Japan match on September 6th.

from Rugby Canada

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team held their own for 50 minutes in Sendai, but a late surge from Japan saw the Brave Blossoms pull away for a 57-15 victory in Saturday’s Pacific Nations Cup pool stage clash at Yurtec Stadium.

The result leaves Canada with one win and one defeat from pool play after last week’s 34-20 victory over the United States in Calgary. With all six sides convening in Denver for the Pacific Nations Cup play-offs in mid-September, Canada remains firmly in contention for qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Japan struck early through No. 8 Amato Fakatava, who powered over from a 5m scrum in the third minute, before fly-half Seung-sin Lee added a penalty to give the hosts a 10-0 advantage. Canada hit back strongly as flanker Siôn Parry finished off a rolling maul in the 24th minute, with Peter Nelson’s conversion and subsequent penalty drawing the visitors level at 10-10.

A yellow card to Japanese lock Waisake Raratubua opened the door further, but it was the Brave Blossoms who struck next, with captain Warner Dearns finishing under the posts to restore a 17-10 lead at the break.

Canada continued to press early in the second half, generating repeated attacking lineouts inside Japan’s 22 and threatening to score again. But the home side held firm and, after weathering the pressure, turned on the style in the final half-hour.

Fakatava grabbed his second try before fullback Sam Greene, flanker Ben Gunter, substitute Tomoki Osada and winger Kippei Ishida (twice) all crossed in quick succession. Jesse Mackail pulled one back for Canada with his first international try in the 79th minute, peeling off the back of a maul to muscle across, but Japan had the final say, with Ishida’s second capping a run of 40 second-half points to close the contest.

This match marked the first occasion Canada has played in Sendai since 2009, and the first time the team was back within the Tōhoku region since the 2019 Rugby World Cup when Canada’s scheduled match against Namibia was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis. Canada’s players, after the cancellation, stayed in Kamaishi and helped residents clean up debris and mud from the storm. This act of solidarity was widely praised and remembered as one of the most touching stories of the 2019 World Cup.

With Canada’s PNC pool stage now complete, the second-place team must wait to learn its fate; the USA require a four-try bonus point victory over Japan when the two sides meet in California next Saturday – and must finish their pool play with a superior points differential to Canada’s -28 – to take Canada’s place in the PNC semi-final.

Post-Match Reaction

Lucas Rumball (Captain):

“We stuck well in it in the first 40. I think our game plan was good. But credit to Japan, they adjusted well at the half. We stuck with it for a bit there, but they overcame us in the last 20.”

“We just couldn’t hold on to the ball when we had chances inside their 22. It comes down to discipline in the carry and cleanout, and maybe some passes we pushed. At the end of the day, you’ve got to take care of the ball, and we didn’t do that.”

Stephen Meehan (Head Coach):

“We’ve really enjoyed our time in Japan. From playing last Friday night and making the travel over, spending some days in Tokyo, training hard, and then coming up here to Sendai, people have been fantastic to us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t quite replicate the same levels as we did last week [against USA], but we’ll go away and keep working on things.”

“At halftime we wanted to improve our work at the breakdown — body height, leg drive, support players, and clearance. But it was against a very physical defensive effort from Japan. That just means we’ve got to keep working on certain areas of our game.”

CANADA SCORING SUMMARY

Tries: Sion Parry (23’), Jesse Mackail (79’)
Conversions: Peter Nelson (24’)
Penalty Goals: Peter Nelson (30’)

UP NEXT FOR CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM

All six Pacific Nations Cup sides (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will convene in Denver, Colorado in September for the Pacific Nations Cup play-offs, with the semi-finals and fifth place play-off taking place on September 14 in Denver, and the final and third place play-off taking place on September 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the Rugby World Cup (minus Fiji and Japan, who have already qualified); the last placed team at the conclusion of the tournament will then look to qualify through the South America / Pacific Play-off.

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Canada Name Match 23 for Japan Clash on Saturday

It’s not a game that Canada are expected to win, #13 hosting #24 but Canada can win in the big picture by getting a bonus point and guaranteeing their trip to RWC 2027 in Australia. It makes for an interesting tactical question, try to keep within 7 points or go for 4 tries. If Canada go for lineouts inside the Japan 22 on penalties instead of a kick at goal, then that will be the answer.

Canada are missing three key players, the two pros playing in France, Tyler Ardron and Evan Olmstead, and current #10 Cooper Coats. Peter Nelson slides into the #10 role and Shane O’Leary takes the #15 spot. A few other changes, Mason Flesch replaces Olmstead in the second row and Siôn Parry replaces Tyler Ardron in the loose forwards. Spencer Jones replaces Noah Flesch as starting centre and Nic Benn replaces Isaac Olson on the wing.

On the bench Conor Young makes his return after a long recovery from injury. Callum Botchar is second row replacement and Matt Heaton the backup loose forward. Brendan Black comes into the roster as the utility back three replacement.

If Canada are pushing for 4 tries then the lineout and maul could be an important factor. Japan are missing their former captain and #8 Michael Leitch for the Pacific Nations Cup. Also missing from the match is vice-captain, hooker Mamoru Harada. Japan coach Eddie Jones noted, “we’ve picked a strong squad, considering we have 11 players unavailable through injury or personal circumstances.”

The match will be broadcast on TSN, kick off is at 1am PT.

Canada Roster vs Japan

1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
2. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
3. Cole Keith (Sussex, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
4. Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – New England Free Jacks
5. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
6. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
8. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
12. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
14. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
15. Shane O’Leary (Cork, IRE) – Ballina Killaloe RFC / Miami Sharks

FINISHERS

16. Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZ) – Bayside RFC / Seattle Seawolves
17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
18. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA / NOLA Gold
20. Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
21. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia
22. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
23. Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph

from Rugby Canada

The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s upcoming Pacific Nations Cup match against Japan has been named by Head Coach Stephen Meehan.

Canada kicks off against Japan on Saturday August 30 at 1:00am PT / 4:00am ET / 5:00pm Local at Yurtec Stadium in Sendai. As Canada’s second and final pool play match, the result will help determine who Canada will play in the play-offs in Denver on September 14.

Canada met the United States in their opening Pacific Nations Cup match on Friday in Calgary, defeating the Americans 34-20 in front of 11,587 fans at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium and coming away with an important bonus point thanks to Tyler Ardron’s record-tying four tries and Peter Nelson’s 14 points.

Shane O’Leary moves into the starting 15 at fullback, his first appearance for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team since the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Siôn Parry gets his start in the number 6 jersey with Mason Flesch slotting in at 5 and Matthew Oworu shifting to 8.

Callum Botchar, who plays in the MLR with New Orlean’s NOLA Gold joins the match day 23 after being called in to the Pacific Nations Cup Tournament Team. In the midfield, Spencer Jones slots in at 12, LeSage shifting to 13 and Flesch coming off the bench in the number 22 jersey. Nic Benn, who came off the bench versus the Americans will start at left wing (11) with Josiah Morra moving to the right (14).

Making his return to the match day squad for the first time since the 2024 Cernavoda Cup in Romania is Conor Young, who plays in the MLR for Rugby FC Los Angeles. Fellow RFC LA teammate Matt Heaton joins the bench and Brenden Black who made his debut for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Belgium earlier this year will look to earn his second cap for Canada in the number 23 jersey.

“The players delivered just about everything we asked of them against the United States, and we were proud to secure a significant win on home soil,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Japan is a quality side, and we look forward to that challenge. The team has shown real effort and commitment in training in a competitive environment—a clear sign of the depth we’re building. Now it’s about execution against another higher-ranked opponent.”

This match will mark the first time Canada has played in Sendai since 2009, and the first time the team will be back within the Tōhoku region since the 2019 Rugby World Cup when Canada’s match vs Namibia was canceled due to typhoon Hagibis. Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team looks forward to welcoming fans that may have hoped to be at their match back in 2019. Canada’s players, after the cancellation, stayed in Kamaishi and helped residents clean up debris and mud from the storm. This act of solidarity was widely praised and remembered as one of the most touching stories of the 2019 World Cup.

The match will be streamed live on TSN4 and TSN+.

More information about the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.

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Canada Travelling Roster to Japan Missing Evan Olmstead, Tyler Ardron and Cooper Coats

The Canada men’s XVs roster travelling to Japan has been posted but not by Rugby Canada, at the time of writing, but by the Japan Rugby Union. We knew Evan Olmstead wasn’t travelling but also now we’ve discovered that Tyler Ardron and Cooper Coats won’t be travelling as well. The discovery of the Japan Rugby Union page can be credited to Bryan Ray who posted it on X.

The roster reveals that Austin Creighton might be in line for his first cap. Without Cooper Coats it will either be Peter Nelson or Shane O’Leary running the backline from #10 with the other likely taking the fullback position. The Japan game is probably viewed as a bridge to far, especially on the road, but if Canada can get a bonus point out of the match it will be considered a win and ensure their trip to the World Cup in 2027.

Position	full name	Affiliated team	date of birth	Height (cm)	Weight (kg)	Cap
Forward	Callum  BOTCHAR	NOLA Gold	October 3, 1997	196	112	6
Forward	Austin CREIGHTON	Pacific Pride	June 6, 2000	188	104	–
Forward	Mason FLESCH	Chicago Hounds	1999/11/18	196	109	14
Forward	Matt Heaton	RFC Los Angeles	February 9, 1993	189	102	36
Forward	Cole Keith	New England Free Jacks	May 7, 1997	183	117	38
Forward	Izzak Kelly	Capilano	April 9, 2000	199	125	8
Forward	Dewald KOTZE	Seattle Seawolves	June 14, 1997	183	112	7
Forward	Jesse MacKail	Seattle Seawolves	May 18, 1996	185	109	4
Forward	Calixto MARTINEZ	Old Glory DC	1996/10/13	174	114	9
Forward	Matthew OWORU	Chicago Hounds	July 29, 2000	186	110	11
Forward	Siôn PARRY	Ebbw Vale (WAL)	1998/10/29	180	90	10
Forward	Emerson Prior	Utah Warriors	June 4, 1998	189	118	2
Forward	Lucas RUMBALL	Chicago Hounds	August 2, 1995	189	105	61
Forward	Kyle STEEVES	New England Free Jacks	2000/1/31	183	122	4
Forward	Piers VON DADELSZEN	New England Free Jacks	March 25, 2000	193	105	7
Forward	Conor YOUNG	RFC Los Angeles	August 15, 1995	188	123	12
BK	Nic  BENN	Utah Warriors	2001/4/28	188	93	7
BK	Brenden BLACK	Guelph Gryphons	2004/4/28	186	90	1
BK	Noah  FLESCH	Chicago Hounds	2003/2/12	188	94	5
BK	Brock  Gallagher	Seattle Seawolves	July 13, 1998	178	84	7
BK	Jason HIGGINS	Chicago Hounds	March 28, 1995	185	90	22
BK	Spencer  Jones	Utah Warriors	July 17, 1997	185	98	8
BK	Ben  Lesage	New England Free Jacks	1995/11/24	184	95	38
BK	Josiah  MORRA	New England Free Jacks	February 7, 1998	178	85	8
BK	Peter  Nelson	Dungannon (UK)	1992/10/5	180	87	29
BK	Shane  O’LEARY	Miami Sharks	December 3, 1993	178	88	14
BK	Isaac  OLSON	New England Free Jacks	July 1, 2000	191	103	7
BK	Stephen  WEBB	UBC Thunderbirds	2005/12/15	179	84	1

Canada gained one ranking position after the USA win, moving from 25th to 24th in the world, the USA dropped from 16 to 18. Japan is ranked 13th.