Maple Leaf 7s Team Named for LA 7s Invitational: Results Updated
Rugby Canada finally released the roster for the Maple Leaf squad at the LA 7s Invitational. Two players, Anton Ngongo and Brennig Prevost, are from the senior squad. Callum Botchar, rumoured to be going to Taranaki for XVs later this year, is in the squad. Pride players Max Stewart, AJ Kosempel, Zephyr Melnyk are in the roster as well as CW winger Jordan Ng and Ravens wing Cole Keffer. JBAA’s Mostyn Findlay is on the team as well as UBC’s Jared Andrews-Almack and UVic’s Ethan Hager. The only player who hasn’t played in the BC Premier is Christian Coppin from Upright Rogues in Ontario.
Maple Leafs with Rugby Quebec
Quebec roster
Day 1 Results
Maple Leafs
31-7 win over Japan Development
56-0 win over Sacramento
20-5 loss to the USA Falcons
Quebec
2 wins, 1 loss
Day 2 Results
Maple Leafs
Day 2 Scores:
25-10 loss to Seventise Rugby France
20-5 win over Rhinos Rugby in the Plate Semi Finals
15-10 loss to Japan Development in the Plate Final
Quebec
Win Plate final 21-5 against Belmont Shore
from Rugby Canada
Twelve Canadian players from Western Canada will be in Los Angeles this weekend to compete in the Mens Elite Division of the Los Angeles Invitational Sevens tournament, the first of two opportunities in 2023 for up-and-coming players to show their skills against high-level competition from around the world.
Canada’s roster includes Brennig Prevost and Anton Ngongo, who both have experience with Canadas Mens Sevens Team. Also on the squad are Pacific Pride players Max Stewart, AJ Kosempel, Zephyr Melnyk, Callum Botcher and recent MLR draft pick by the Dallas Jackals, Ethan Hager. Players Cole Keffer, Jordan Ng, Jared Andrews-Almack, Mostyn Findlay and Christian Coppin feature on the roster as well. The team will be coached by Nigel DAcre.
There is a large pool of talented players in Canada, and tournaments like the LA Sevens Invitational are valuable high performance opportunities both for our own scouting and for player development, said Sean White, Canadas Mens Sevens Team interim Head Coach. We have many examples of players now representing Canada on the World Rugby Sevens Series who benefitted from similar opportunities. I am greatly looking forward to continuing to get to know and work with our next generation of mens sevens players.
This group of aspiring Western Canadian rugby players will be competing against development squads from Japan, USA, and France, providing a significant opportunity for Rugby Canadas high performance staff to continue to evaluate and develop the players looking to one day reach Canadas top team.
Canadas development squad will play their matches on February 24 and 25 on the outer fields at Dignity Health Sports Park as part of the official amateur rugby tournament associated with HSBC LA Sevens.
Following the conclusion of HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver on March 3-5, Canadas Mens Sevens Team interim Head Coach Sean White will travel to Toronto for an identification camp to help select a roster comprised of players from Eastern Canada to compete at Tropical Sevens in Tampa, Florida on April 7 and 8. The roster for this tournament will be announced closer to start of the event.
Roster for LA Sevens Invitational Mens Elite 7s Division
1. Cole Keffer (UBCOB)
2. Jordan Ng (Castaway Wanderers/Oakville Crusaders)
3. Max Stewart (Pacific Pride)
4. Jared Andrews-Almack (UBC)
5. Ethan Hager (University of Victoria)
6. Brennig Prevost (Castaway Wanderers)
7. Anton Ngongo (Castaway Wanderers)
8. Mostyn Findlay (James Bay/Regina Rogues)
9. Christian Coppin (Upright Rogues)
10. AJ Kosempel (Pacific Pride/Laurier)
11. Zephyr Melnyk (Pacific Pride/Nanaimo Hornets)
12. Callum Botchar (Pacific Pride/UBC)