Canada v USA Qualifier August 2025

Tyler Ardron Scores 4 Tries in Canada’s 34-20 Win Over USA

What a difference having Tyler Ardron and Evan Olmstead, the two pros playing in France, in the starting XV. Between the tries and the steals at the breakdowns and lineouts, they were massive in Canada’s performance. Also kudos to the new coach Stephen Meehan, who has created an environment where the pro players were motivated to suit up for Canada. It was a solid effort on both sides of the ball and Canada looked in control for most of the match and definitely in the second half where they outscored the USA 17-3.

The win gives Canada a very good shot of qualifying for the World Cup, the top two teams in the pool will qualify and Canada has 5 points and kept USA to 0 points with no losing bonus point. The USA will now have to defeat Japan with a bonus point to be in the running, even a losing bonus point for Canada against Japan will ensure their progress to the World Cup. The live updates are below and the write up by Canadian Press is appended as well.

Live Updates: Canada v USA

80′ CANADA WIN!!!!! 34-20

79′ Ardron steals the ball, a huge defensive effort, Stephen Webb comes on at scrum half

77′ Canada win a scrum at the USA 22, Jesse Mackail subs on for Dewald Kotze

75′ HIA called on USA #14, Canada in possession and given the scrum

72′ Nic Benn with the steal,  Canada defence coming up big.

69′ Olmstead with a huge turnover just as USA were gaining momentum

67′ Canada gets called for holding on, USA kicks for touch.

65′ The USA #10 gets called for a deliberate knock on and gets a yellow card. Canada opt for the lineout instead of the 3 points, Canada lose the lineout and play continues.

63′ USA knock the ball on in their half, Canada get the scrum.

60′ USA mishandle a kick and Peter Nelson kicks it on and dives on the ball for the try, 34-20

54′ Canada win a penalty inside USA half and kick for the corner. They drive forward and win another penalty. ARDRON scores his fourth try, unbelievable, Canada 27-20.

51′ Isaac Olson gets subbed off and Nic Benn comes on.

50′ Isaac Olson drops a high kick, scrum to USA

46′ TMO injects himself in the match, a high tackle called on Cali Martinez, no yellow but a penalty awarded to USA. They go for the corner. Canada win a penalty with a clear out beyond the ruck, USA get dinged for chat and an extra 10 metres.

43′ Canada win a penalty inside the USA half, Peter Nelson tries a shot at goal, he nails it, 20-20

41′ Canada knock the ball on from the kick off, USA win a penalty for not rolling away at the ruck, USA take the 3 points, 20-17

40′ Half ends tied 17-17

35′ Canada win a penalty at USA 22 and Canada go for the kick to touch and lineout. Tyler Ardron scores his 3rd try, 17-17.

30′ Cole Keith called offside, USA slot the 3 points, 17-12 USA.

25′ Steal by Evan Olmstead gets Canada out of trouble with USA attacking in the Canada zone. Ardron steals a lineout and Canada have possession inside USA half. Isaac Olson drops a pass out wide and USA have the scrum.

20′ Tyler Ardon steals a lineout, Noah Flesch with a big run, Peter Nelson catches USA napping and chips a kick out to Tyler Ardron on the wing for the try, unconverted, 14-12.

15′ Back and forth action, Cooper Coats with a run gets the ball stripped in the tackle, a marginal call, could have been called a penalty but play on. USA connects on a #10 to wing chip kick that catches Canada napping on the outside defence. 14-7 USA.

8′ USA score off a maul and a pass to outside centre who crashes over the line, 7-7.

6′ Canada called for not rolling away in a ruck, USA go for the corner instead of kicking for 3 points.

3′ Canada score a try from prolonged pressure inside the 5 metres, Tyler Ardron touches it down, Oworu with a strong run, converted by Peter Nelson, 7-0.

1′ Canada win a penalty at the lineout, Cooper Coats misses the kick to touch, but USA knock on from the ensuing play.

from Canadian Press

Former captain Tyler Ardron scored four tries in his return to the national team and Canada reeled off 17 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the U.S. 34-20 in Pacific Nations Cup rugby play Friday.

The 34-year-old backrower from Peterborough, Ont., who plays his club rugby in France for Castres Olympique, won cap No. 39 in his first appearance in Canadian colours since October 2021. Ardron captained Canada at both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

The Pacific Nations Cup marks the start of World Cup qualifying for the 25th-ranked Canadian men and 16th-ranked Americans.

Tied 17-17 at the break, the teams exchanged penalties and Ardron scored his fourth try in the 57th minute after a quick-tap penalty. Peter Nelson’s conversion gave Canada a 27-20 lead and the fullback scored himself in the 61st, chasing down his own grubber kick after an American turnover to make it 34-20.

American fly half A.J. MacGinty was sent to the sin bin in the 66th minute for a deliberate knock-on, leaving the visitors down a man for 10 minutes.

Nelson kicked three conversions and a penalty for Canada, which snapped a seven-game losing streak. Canada had not won since a 35-22 decision over No. 21 Romania in July 2024 in Ottawa.

“It really mattered to us today,” said Canada captain Lucas Rumball. “That was the focus of the game, was just making it matter — every minute, every tackle, every pass, everything. I think we showed it in there today.”

Dominic Besag and Rufus McLean scored tries for the U.S. MacGinty booted two conversions and two penalties.

The Canadians won the set-piece battle, stealing several U.S. lineouts, and showed discipline in avoiding penalties. And they continued their expansive play under new coach Steve Meehan, who celebrated his first win at the Canadian helm.

The Australian took over the Canadian men after Kingsley Jones stepped down in December after seven years at the helm.

“I thought the players delivered just about everything that we asked of them and I’m delighted for them,” said Meehan. “They really worked hard. They deserve every bit of enjoyment now.”

Meehan lost his first two games in charge — 25-18 to No. 22 Belgium and 24-23 to No. 15 Spain on a last-minute Spanish penalty kick — in July in Edmonton.

The Pacific Nations Cup, which also features No. 9 Fiji, No. 13 Samoa, No. 14 Japan and No. 19 Tonga, will send three teams to the 2027 World Cup, which is being hosted by No. 6 Australia.

Fiji and Japan have already qualified by virtue of their performance at the 2023 tournament, so a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it.

Tonga hosted Samoa later Friday in Nuku’alofa in Pool A play. Canada will complete Pool B play against Japan in Sendai on Aug. 30.

The semifinals and fifth-versus-sixth game are scheduled for Sept. 14 in Denver with the championship and third-place game Sept. 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The team that finishes sixth still has a shot at the World Cup via a two-legged qualifying playoff against the 2025 Sudaméricano runner-up. The playoff loser joins the four-team Final Qualification Tournament with one World Cup berth on the line.

Canada finished sixth in last year’s Pacific Nations Cup, beaten 30-17 by Tonga after group stage losses to the U.S. (28-15) and Japan (55-28).

Ardron gave Canada an early lead, crashing over from close-range in the third minute after an American handling error.

The Eagles tied it 7-7 six minutes later on a try by Besag after Canada was penalized for an infraction at the breakdown. And the U.S. pulled ahead 14-7 in the 17th minute on MacGinty’s exquisite kick-pass to a wide-open McLean on the wing.

Canada matched that in the 21st minute, cutting the lead to 14-12 after Nelson found Ardron in the corner with a kick off a quick-tap penalty deep in the U.S. MacGinty, who plays in England for Bristol Bears, made it 17-12 with a penalty in the 33rd minute.

Ardron scored his third try in the 38th minute, diving over from close range to pull Canada even at 17-17.

Hooker Dewald Kotze, a 28-year-old from Edmonton, made his first start for Canada while UBC scrum half Stephen Webb won his first cap off the bench. Webb is the son of the late Bill Webb, co-founder of the now-defunct Toronto Arrows.

Friday’s match was the first for the Canadian men at McMahon Stadium since 2017 when they faced Georgia.

While Canada held a 39-25-2 edge in the all-time series with the U.S., the Americans had won eight of the previous nine meetings with the lone Canadian win during that stretch a 34-21 decision in St John’s, N.L., in September 2021. The U.S. won 28-15 when they met in Carson, Calif., in last year’s Pacific Nations Cup.

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Canada Name Match 23 for USA Contest on Friday

The selection went much as expected with a couple of the players coming off of injury being downgraded or left off the roster. Conor Young the starting tighthead last year missed most of the MLR season this season with injury and is obviously not ready to return, he’s been left off the match 23. Cole Keith takes his place and Kyle Steeves moves to the reserves as backup prop. In the loose forwards Mason Flesch who was one of the top Canadian performers in the MLR this season, missed the last couple of games and has been given a reserve role with the combination of Ardron, Rumball, Oworu  getting the start. It looks like Mason Flesch has been selected a second row backup instead of Izzak Kelly and Sion Parry is the loose forward backup.

In the backs Noah Flesch has been selected ahead of Spencer Jones who gets a reserve spot and Nic Benn is the reserve outside back. Young Canada U20 scrum half, and current UBC player, Stephen Webb will be thrown into the deep end of a pressure situation for his first senior cap when he comes on, likely in the second half.

Anything is possible in a one off match, USA ranked #16 goes in as favourites over Canada #25 but Canada have the home field advantage and a couple of their France based pros back in the roster. If Canada do win they’ll gain some ranking points and have a leg up on qualifying for the World Cup, with the Japan games to still be factored in.

Canada Match 23

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 Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, BC) – Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen
6 Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
7 Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
8 Tyler Ardron (Peterborough, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Castres Olympique
9 Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
10 Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold
11 Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
12 Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
13 Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
14 Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – New England Free Jacks
15 Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
16 Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZ) – Bayside RFC / Seattle Seawolves
17 Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
18 Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
19 Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
20 Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
21 Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia
22 Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
23 Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors

from Rugby Canada

Canada and the United States will kick off at 6:00pm PT / 7:00pm MT / 9:00pm ET on Friday August 22 at McMahon Stadium for their first match of the Pacific Nations Cup, an annual tournament contested between Canada, Japan, the United States, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, and serving as a direct qualification pathway for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Stephen Webb will look to earn his first cap for Canada. Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Webb is entering his third year at the University of British Columbia where he plays for the UBC Thunderbirds. Stephen’s late father Bill Webb was the co-founder of the Toronto Arrows, Canada’s first and only professional rugby union team.

Dewald Kotze, has earned his first start for Canada. The 28-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta will look to continue his good form after another year in the MLR playing for the Seattle Seawolves. Kotze played 16 matches and scored 15 points for the West Coast side.

Making their return to the match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team for the first time since the 2024 Cernavoda Cup in Romania are Nic Benn and Jesse Mackail. Nic is back on home soil after spending the season in the MLR with the Utah Warriors, while Mackail spent the 2024-25 season with the Seattle Seawolves.

Tyler Ardron returns to the match day roster for the first time since he made the last of his 38 appearances in the RWC 2023 qualifier defeat to Chile in 2021. He has represented Castres Olympique in the Top 14 for the past 5 years. His return along with seasoned veteran Evan Olmstead is a strong indication of the team’s intent to secure victory in this pivotal match and their belief in their ability to achieve it.

“The effort and understanding the team has shown in training has been very good,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Competition for starting XV and reserves was high and this demonstrates the depth we’re building. It’s now time to execute what we’ve practiced. This begins on Friday evening in the Pacific Nations Cup with a strong performance against the USA.”

This match will mark the first time Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has played at McMahon Stadium since 2017 when they faced Georgia, and the second time Canada and the United States have met in the past two years.12 players including Captain Lucas Rumball, Calixto Martinez, Mason Flesch, Jason Higgins, Peter Nelson, Nic Benn, Talon McMullin, Ben LeSage, Dewald Kotze, Cole Keith, Matthew Oworu, and Cooper Coats were part of the team that faced the United States in 2024 where the Canadians fell 28-15 to their North American rivals.

The match will be broadcast live on TSN3 and TSN+.

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Canada Name Tournament Team of 28 Players: A Look at a Possible Match 23 for USA

Stephen Meehan has named 28 players for the Pacific Nations Cup tournament which  starts on Friday when Canada hosts USA in Calgary. The 23 players for the USA match will likely be announced Thursday. There are a few standout players missing from the list like Andrew Coe and Brock Webster who never attended camp but there is some good news with Tyler Ardron and Evan Olmstead, both pros from France, on the 28 player list. Andrew Quattrin is also a missing player, the starting hooker is apparently in France on a trial at Pro D2 club Valence Romans.

A possible starting XV for the USA match would be Cali Martinez, Dewald Kotze, Conor Young in the front row with Emerson Prior, Jesse Mackail, Cole Keith in reserve. A lot depends on how match fit Conor Young is after returning from injury. Kyle Steeves is also in the mix as a prop. In the second row Evan Olmstead and Piers Von Dadelszen would likely return with Izzak Kelly in the reserves. In the loose forwards Tyler Ardron, Mason Flesch, Lucas Rumball would be a good starting combination, again it depends how fit Mason Flesch is after missing the last two matches. Matt Oworu has been the starting #8 and it would be a tough choice if he didn’t start. Matt Heaton might struggle to get a spot as well as Sion Parry if Mason Flesch is cleared to play.

In the backs, it looks like Jason Higgins and Cooper Coats would be the 9/10 combination. They’ve brought young Stephen Webb in as the reserve scrum half ahead of Brock Gallagher. The centre pairing is likely Spencer Jones and Ben Lesage with Noah Flesch and Talon McMullin vying for the third spot in a 5/3 bench. The outside backs likely Josiah Morra and either Nic Benn or Isaac Olson, Peter Nelson the fullback. Brendan Black looking to claim a backup role.

We’ll find out Thursday the match 23. The game is on Friday at 6pm PT

28 Player Tournament Team

FORWARDS

Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
Cole Keith (Sussex, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, BC) – Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZ) – Bayside RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
Tyler Ardron (Peterborough, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Castres Olympique

BACKS

Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia
Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia

STAFF

Stephen Meehan – Head Coach
Phil Mack – Coach
Anthony Mathison – Coach
Richard Andrews – Head Analyst
James Rees – Head S&C Coach
Lisa Ruggles – Lead Therapist
Ben Motum – Assistant Therapist
Dr. Boshoff – Team Doctor
Neil MacDougall – Manager
Maxine O’Leary – Media Manager

from Rugby Canada

Canada kicks off the Pacific Nations Cup on August 22 at 6:00pm PT / 7:00pm MT / 9:00pm ET, taking on the world number 16th ranked USA Eagles on home soil. Tickets are available for purchase here and the match will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.

The naming of Canada’s Tournament Team follows a 2-week long training camp in Calgary and a preparation match against the Alberta Wolf Pack.

“We were really pleased with the training match we played against the Wolf Pack in Red Deer.” Said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Both teams played in the right spirit, the way the officials ran things was terrific, Erika and her team at Titans Rugby and the local support was brilliant. It was a very valuable exercise, and we couldn’t have asked for more. It was a hit out we needed.”

24 players return from the squad that represented Canada in Edmonton earlier this summer.

Included in the squad are 9 players who competed in the 2025 MLR finals, and five from the championship winning New England Free Jacks: Ben LeSage, Cole Keith, Isaac Olson, Josiah Morra, Kyle Steeves, and Piers Von Dadelszen. Stephen Webb could earn his first cap for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team. Calgary natives, Ben LeSage and Matt Oworu will be making a return to the region for the first match against the United States. “We want to bring this younger generation of Canadian rugby players to another World Cup,” says LeSage.

Tyler Ardron returns to the squad for the first time since he made the last of his 38 appearances in the RWC 2023 qualifier defeat to Chile in 2021. He has represented Castres Olympique in the Top 14 for the past 5 years. His return along with seasoned veteran Evan Olmstead is a strong indication of the team’s intent to secure victory in this pivotal match and their belief in their ability to achieve it.

“We have been very pleased with the effort and commitment shown by the players throughout training camp, continuing the work we began in Edmonton,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Selection for the Pacific Nations Cup was extremely competitive, which is a positive sign of the depth we are developing. As we now turn our focus to the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup against the USA, we understand the importance of the occasion. The players and staff are focused, and we will continue to build throughout these critical matches in Calgary, Japan, and Denver.”

The 2025 Pacific Nations Cup serves as a direct qualification pathway for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the top three teams (minus Fiji and Japan, who have already qualified) earning a berth in the 24-team event. The official World Rugby announcement on the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification process can be found here.

Tickets for the Pacific Nations Cup in Calgary are available for purchase here. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@rugby.ca. For more information on suites, please contact suites@rugby.ca.

Following Friday’s match in Calgary against the United States, the team will then travel to Japan to take on the hosts on Saturday August 30 at 1:00am PT / 4:00am ET / 5:00pm Local. All six Pacific Nations Cup sides (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will convene in Denver, Colorado in September for the 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.

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

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM SCHEDULE

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs United States (Pacific Nations Cup)
Friday August 22, 2025
6:00pm PT / 7:00pm MT / 9:00pm
TSN3 and TSN+
McMahon Stadium, Calgary

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Japan (Pacific Nations Cup)
Saturday August 30, 2025
1:00am PT / 4:00am ET / 5:00pm Local
Yurtec Stadium, Sendai
TSN4 and TSN+

Remaining Pacific Nations Cup matches to be determined based on the results of Canada’s matches against the United States and Japan.