What Does Canada’s Men’s XVs Team Look Like for 2025
If you’re not a regular starter in MLR, can you be considered an automatic for Canada selection? That’s a valid question as Canada looks towards its World Cup qualifier this year. If you’re good enough to get a regular starting slot in MLR, it’s likely you’ll be in contention for national team match selection but that introduces a problem as Canada doesn’t have MLR starters in several key position, the halfbacks, an openside flanker, the centres.
Here are the players who have been earning regular starting positions in the MLR before Round 7.
Front Row
Andrew Quattrin – hooker
Cali Martinez – tighthead prop
Second Row
Mason Flesch – 2nd row / #6
Reegan O’Gorman – 2nd row
Loose Forwards
Piers von Dadelszen – 2nd row / #6
Lucas Rumball – #8
Halfbacks
TBD
Centres
Spencer Jones – inside/outside centre
Outside Backs
Andrew Coe – wing
Nic Benn – wing
Isaac Olson – wing
Cooper Coats – fullback
If you compare the last national men’s selection versus Romania you’ll see some overlap, Martinez and Quattrin are on both lists and seem a sure selection. Conor Young has been injured and if healthy would seem certain of consideration at tighthead. Mason Flesch is on both lists as is Lucas Rumball. Both Mason Flesch and Piers von Dadelszen have been used at second row and blindside flanker. Reegan O’Gorman was largely overlooked by Kingsley Jones but has been a regular selection by LA before his injury. Have James Stockwood, Matt Heaton and Sion Parry done enough to maintain their selection? Parry is currently playing for Ebbw Vale in the Welsh Premier competition, the same league Jamin Hodgkins was playing in before returning to the Pacific Pride. Heaton only has one start with LA so far.
Will Tyler Ardron and Tyler Duguid consider playing under a new coach? If Mason Flesch is played at blindside flanker and Lucas Rumball at #8, then it’s options at openside flanker that Canada are needing right now. Kyle Baillie just got his first start this past weekend and made the MLR Team of the Week, so perhaps more from him to bolster the second row options.
The halfbacks positions are a worry, Brock Gallagher has just been getting scraps off the bench at Seattle, the same with Jason Higgins at Chicago, Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti at New England is the only scrum half to get a start this season. The Pacific Pride have a number of potential players but have they been getting enough testing at the next level of competition? The Pride or a Canada A team needs some international matches to give players and coaches a good evaluation platform.
The #10 position is wide open, Peter Nelson has been the fallback option for a long time for Kingsley Jones, Shane O’Leary has had only one start this season so far, Jamin Hodgkins at the Pride is an option, Rob Povey is playing 3rd tier in England and getting regular starts, Mark Balaski moved on from the Pride to play in the southern hemisphere for a season.
In the centres Mitch Richardson retired, Ben Lesage hasn’t had any game time with New England yet this year, Noah Flesch hasn’t had a start yet this year, Spencer Jones has been the form player with 5 starts and a Team of the Week selection. The sevens team have some potential candidates as does the Pacific Pride.
The back three seem fairly settled with Andrew Coe, Nic Benn and Cooper Coats getting regular playing time with their MLR teams. Again the sevens players, and former sevens players, provide a lot of competition. Brock Webster got his second start with New England and scored a try this past weekend, players like D’Shawn Bowen playing in the BC Premier would be on the radar.
It will be interesting to see the new coach’s long list and who gets invited to camp. Canada’s first game is July 12th vs Belgium. The MLR regular season ends June 8th with 3 more weekends of playoff rounds.
Canada v Romania November 2024
1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
4. James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
5. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
6. Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – RFC LA
7. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
9. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
12. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
13. Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek, ON) – McMaster University
14. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) – RFC LA / Markham Irish RFC
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars / NOLA Gold
FINISHERS
16. Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZL) – UBCOB Ravens / Pacific Pride / Seattle Seawolves
17. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride
18. Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – NOLA Gold
20. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloe Rugby Club
21. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
22. Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride
23. Rhys James (Kelowna, BC) – UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride