Canada v Tonga – September 2025

Canada Fall to Tonga 35-24 to Finish 4th in Pacific Nations Cup

A better performance by Canada who were competitive in the match and there were some standout plays by key players, Matt Oworu for the second week in a row was probably the best Canadian player, he also scored a try. Brock Gallagher scored a brilliant solo try which was initially setup by strong work at the breakdown by Talon McMullin, winning Canada a penalty which put the ball in the Tonga zone. Peter Nelson put his body on the line to scored a try and that was setup by some slick play by Spencer Jones.

Canada’s tackle success rate was better, 76% this week compared to 66% last week. The scrum creaked a bit and Canada had a 71% scrum success rate compared to 100% for Tonga. Overall not a bad performance considering the players they were missing. Next up is the November tour which purportedly includes Romania (Nov 8th), Georgia (Nov 15th), and Portugal (Nov 22nd).

Match Highlights

from Rugby Canada

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team closed out their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 35–24 defeat to Tonga in the third-place play-off at America First Field in Utah.

With both nations having already secured qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup earlier in the tournament, Saturday’s contest was about pride, ranking points, and closing the competition on a high note.

Tonga Start Fast, Canada Responds

Tonga were quickest out of the blocks, striking in the 11th minute through flanker Tupou Afungia, who pushed over the whitewash off the back of a powerful maul. Patrick Pellegrini added the extras, and the fly-half then extended Tonga’s advantage with a converted try of his own just after the half-hour mark, taking the score to 14–0.

Down but not out, Canada worked hard to establish territory, with Matthew Oworu carrying strongly and the pack forcing a couple of penalties to build momentum. Their persistence paid off just before the interval.

After a series of close-range phases, Oworu powered across from short distance to open Canada’s account just before the halftime whistle. Peter Nelson’s conversion brought the Canadians right back into the contest, trailing 14–7 at the break.

Gallagher and Nelson Spark Canada

Canada’s response carried into the second half. Scrum-half Brock Gallagher lit up the stadium with a solo try, stepping out of tackles and fending off the cover to level the score at 14–14. The momentum continued to swing Canada’s way as they applied sustained pressure for long spells ahead of the hour-mark, but Tonga hit back through prop Siegfried Fisi’ihoi and a second try for Pellegrini.

Peter Nelson kept the Canadians in touch with a penalty goal before finishing off a flowing move in the corner for a converted try that narrowed the gap to 28–24 with 10 minutes to play. However, Tonga regained control late as Pellegrini completed his hat-trick, and their defence held firm through the closing minutes to secure third place.

Oworu once again provided go-forward in the pack, Gallagher showed his attacking spark, and Nelson contributed 14 points with the boot and ball in hand.

The evening was also a memorable one for two young Canadians, as winger Jack Shaw and substitute hooker Austin Creighton made their senior test debuts in national colours.

From the Captain and Coach

“We can be proud of where we finished this year compared to last year,” said captain Mason Flesch. Canada finished the 2024 tournament in sixth place. “We were really in this game, especially in the first 40 minutes, but we backed up into our own end [in the second half], and we shot ourselves in the foot. We’re disappointed.”

Reflecting on Canada’s Pacific Nations Cup campaign as a whole: “I think the entire competition is really starting to grow. It’s become a lot more competitive across all the teams. For nations like ourselves and USA, getting to play against the likes of Japan, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, who are putting together some good squads year-in and year-out, is really good for us. The competition is just getting better.”

Head Coach Stephen Meehan credited his squad’s effort while pointing to areas for growth: “Any scoreline that goes against you can be difficult to take, but we were really happy with the way they came out and showed some character. We tried to play a bit of rugby under these circumstances and against a pretty good defensive effort.”

“I think at times we’ve been really happy with our performances, and there’s times when we’ve let ourselves down through execution or being a little bit slow to support one another,” added Meehan, while looking at Canada’s body of work at the 2025 PNC. “We’ll just keep working on things, hopefully keep the mood in the camp nice and positive, and we’ll go forward from here.”

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

CANADA SCORING SUMMARY
Tries: Matthew Oworu (39’), Brock Gallagher (45’), Peter Nelson (68’)
Conversions: Peter Nelson (3)
Penalty Goals: Peter Nelson (60’)

from World Rugby

Patrick Pellegrini scored a hat-trick as Tonga claimed their best Pacific Nations Cup finish since 2018 with a 35-24 win over Canada in the third-place play-off at America First Field, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Two well-worked first-half tries ultimately gave the ‘Ikale Tahi a winning platform in an enthralling match, as they played to their strengths, dominating Canada up front and at the breakdown from the first whistle.

It was a surprise it took them so long to break the deadlock as they piled on the pressure in the early exchanges. It wasn’t until the 11th minute, however, that Tupou Afungia came up with the ball after an unstoppable lineout maul carried him over the line.

Canada, otherwise, defended well, and held the Pacific Islanders at bay for 20 more minutes before player-of-the-match Pellegrini extended their lead, his arcing run too much for the Canucks’ stretched defence following another scrum dominated by his pack.

It had been one-way traffic at America First Field, but proud Canada found a response late in the opening half, after Tonga’s front row were penalised at a scrum. A kick to touch, and patient phase play got them close to the line. Despite determined Sea Eagles’ defence, Matt Oworu scored from inches following several phases in the trenches.

The momentum after the break was briefly with Canada, as Tonga’s second-half performance woes threatened to come back to haunt them. The scores were level soon after the break after Brock Gallagher skipped through a lackadaisical Tongan defence five minutes into the second half. Peter Nelson converted.

Tonga hit back, however. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi dived over from short range shortly before the hour to give Tonga the lead again. Canada answered back with a Nelson penalty. But Salesi Piutau released Pellegrini for his second on the other side of the 60-minute mark. In a flash, Tonga were 11 points ahead.

It didn’t last. Spencer Jones’ spinning catch and give allowed Nelson just enough room to score in the corner to reduce the deficit five minutes later. It was a double-blow for Tonga, with Nikolai Foliaki carded for a dangerous tackle.

Canada’s numerical advantage was short-lived. Kyle Steeves saw yellow for a shoulder charge from the restart. Minutes later, Pellegrini beat two Canadian defenders and stretched to dot down for the third time.

A thrilling finale saw Canada hammer away at Tonga’s defensive line in an effort to reduce the deficit. But the Sea Eagles’ tacklers held firm under huge pressure.

Pellegrini, who scored 25 of Tonga’s points told Rugbypass TV: “It’s a massive step-up from last year, beating Samoa and then finishing third. Our goal was to win it, we came up a bit short, but – man – I’m so proud of the boys, it was such a great effort from them.”

His captain, Tameifuna, agreed: “Rugby is never perfect and we’ve always got something to work on,” he said. “It’s a huge step from last year, and we’ll look to build on that, with the November tour and hopefully go a step further next year in the PNC.”

Disappointed Canada captain Mason Flesch looked to the positives: “We can be proud of where we finished this year compared to last year. But, we were really in that game in the first 40 and we just piggy backed them down the field into our own end and we shot ourselves in the foot.

“The entire PNC is really starting to grow, it’s become a lot more competitive across all the teams – nations like Canada and USA getting to play against Japan, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa who are putting together good squads yearly. The competition’s just getting better.”

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Canada Make Five Changes to Starting Roster for Tonga Match

Coach Stephen Meehan has made several changes to the roster that lost to Fiji 63-10 last weekend. The front row remains the same but Izzak Kelly gets the start ahead of Callum Botchar in the second row. The loose forwards remain the same, Brock Gallagher gets the start at scrum half ahead of Jason Higgins, Talon McMullin starts ahead of Noah Flesch at outside centre. Nic Benn moves from wing to fullback and Shane O’Leary goes to the bench, Jack Shaw gets the start at wing. On the bench Kyle Steeves replaces Conor Young as reserve tighthead and Austin Creighton replaces Jesse Mackail as reserve hooker.

Canada were out-muscled by Fiji and had a 66% tackle success rate, Canada will have to up their game in the contact area to compete with the Tongan team who lost to Fiji 32-10, a +31 better point differential than Canada’s. Tonga aren’t as expansive as Fiji and won’t dominate possession as Fiji did. In the Tonga match Fiji had a 63/37% advantage in possession, in the Canada game it was 58/42%, so Canada should see more of the ball in this match.

The match kicks off on Saturday at 3:35pm PT and will be shown on TSN5 and TSN+.

Canada Roster

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. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
7. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
8. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
9. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
12. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
13. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
14. Jack Shaw (Oakville, ON) – RFC LA / Castaway Wanderers
15. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
16. Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA
17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
18. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA / NOLA Gold
20. Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
21. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
22. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
23. Shane O’Leary (Cork, IRE) – Ballina Killaloe RFC / Miami Sharks

from Rugby Canada

With eyes set on a podium finish at the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, Head Coach Stephen Meehan has named Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s roster for the third-place play-off against Tonga. The match is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, at 3:35 p.m. PT / 6:35 p.m. ET at America First Field in Salt Lake City.

Canada and Tonga most recently met in the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup fifth-place play-off, where Tonga earned a 30–17 victory. Despite the result, Canada’s performance showed progress, highlighted by tries from Takoda McMullin and Andrew Quattrin, and a close 19–10 halftime scoreline. “If you look at the results, even against Tonga from last year to this year, it’s a lot closer,” said Captain Lucas Rumball following that match. “For us, we’re building, and I take it as a step forward.”

This year, Canada has already achieved its primary objective of qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, secured by Japan’s victory over the United States and Canada’s own 34–20 win against the U.S. in Calgary on August 22. With qualification assured, the team remains focused on closing the tournament with a strong performance. The third-place play-off marks further progress for the program, with Canada finishing sixth in the 2024 competition.

“This tournament has been an important step forward for our group,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “We’ve had the chance to measure ourselves against quality opposition, and now we have one more opportunity against Tonga to finish on a strong note. The players are determined to deliver a performance that reflects the progress we’ve made and the pride in representing Canada.”

Meehan’s match day roster features a few changes from the side that faced Fiji in the semi-final last weekend in Denver.

Former RFC Los Angeles winger Jack Shaw will make his debut for Canada, lining up on the wing. Shaw previously travelled with Canada’s squad to Tonga and the La Vila International Cup in Spain in 2023, and made his debut for Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team in November 2024, helping secure qualification to the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series.

Austin Creighton, a product of Edmonton, Alberta, and Canada’s Pacific Pride program, is also set to earn his first cap after helping the Atlantic Privateers to a back-to-back victory in the Coast-to-Coast Cup this summer.

Scrum-half Brock Gallagher, who scored his first international try against Fiji last weekend, earns the start, while Izzak Kelly (lock) and Talon McMullin (centre) are also named to the starting XV. Nic Benn shifts to fullback, and Kyle Steeves returns to the match day squad in the number 18 jersey.

Vice-Captain Cole Keith will make his 41st appearance for Canada. The New England Free Jacks prop reached the 40-cap milestone in last weekend’s semi-final and will start at tight head against Tonga.

Defensively, Canada enters the match as one of the tournament’s hardest-working sides, leading the field with 426 tackles.

The match will be streamed live on TSN5 and TSN+.

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