Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen Names 16 Players for Canada’s Teck Tri-Nations Challenge Team at Vancouver 7s
Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen has named 16 players to participate in the three team tournament taking place during the Vancouver 7s. The women are playing in the main tournament, the men fell out of the Tier 1 tournament so Rugby Canada organized a three team tournament to keep the men’s side included in the overall event. It comes at a good time for the men as they need to up their game having finished last in the previous Tier 3 tournament in Nairobi. They have two more Tier 3 tournaments left this month and they need to finish top four overall to advance to the Tier 2 tournaments in April.
They have named 16 players to get a good look at all possibilities. With #1 scrum half Thomas Isherwood out with injury they have brought in two possible replacements Jesse Kilgour and Brock Gallagher. Josiah Morra returns to the squad after missing Nairobi. Canada will play Japan and Chile on both Saturday and Sunday, schedule times listed below.
Canada Roster
3. Ethan Turner (Maple Ridge, BC) – Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
6. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC
7. Johnny Franklin (Bowen Island, BC) – Capilano RFC
10. Adam Doane (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
13. Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders
14. D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) – James Bay AA / Agronomia Rugby
17. Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Pacific Pride / Barrie RFC
18. Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Scottish / University of Victoria
22. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC
28. Henry Kirwan (Brighton, ENG) – Brighton Blues / Cardiff Metropolitan University
37. Ian Jones (Bass River, NS) – Ajax Wanderers / Pictou County
44. Lockie Kratz (Victoria, BC ) – Castaway Wanderers / UBCOB Ravens
55. Jack Shaw (Oakville, ON) – Castaway Wanderers / Oakville Crusaders
64. Elias Hancock (Ottawa, ON) – University of Ottawa / Bytown Blues
66. Andy Cooper (Vancouver, BC) – Meralomas RFC
98. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC
Non-Traveling Reserves
Thomas Cuzagne (Toulon, France) – Pacific Pride
Reece Thompson (Minesing, ON) – University of Victoria / Barrie Rugby Club
Glenn Roy (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish
Unavailable / Injured
Demetri Patterson (West Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
Ethan Fryer (Seattle, USA)
Kal Sager (Peterborough, ON) – Peterborough Pagans
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
Thomas Isherwood (Okotoks, AB) – Foothills Lions RFC / Westshore RFC
Men’s Schedule
Saturday March 7
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
2:23pm PT / 5:23pm ET
Watch on TSN2 & TSN+
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Chile
6:12pm PT / 9:12pm ET
Watch on TSN2 & TSN+
Sunday March 8
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Chile
2:01pm PT / 5:01pm ET
Watch on TSN1, TSN5, & TSN+
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
5:04pm PT / 8:04pm ET
Watch on TSN4 & TSN+
from Rugby Canada
Sixteen players have been named to Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team ahead of the Teck Tri-Nations Challenge taking place alongside the 11th edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver.
Captained by Victoria’s Lockie Kratz, Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team will play Japan and Chile in a double round robin at BC Place over March 7 and 8 ahead of participating in the second stop of HSBC SVNS 2, the next step in their journey towards promotion to the first tier of the HSBC SVNS Series.
“Vancouver is an important moment for this group. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate our growth and to represent the wider Canadian rugby system with pride… we’re determined to put on a performance that excites and inspires.” Said Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen.
Passes to HSBC SVNS Vancouver will give fans access to the Teck Tri-Nations Challenge. Tickets are available at vansevens.com.
Among the 16 players named to the roster, Josiah Morra is set to officially return to sevens for the first time since his appearance at the 2024 RAN Sevens. Edmonton-born scrum-half Brock Gallagher, who has earned 12 caps with Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team, is poised to make his sevens debut. Vancouver native Andy Cooper is also in line for his first appearance in the sevens format.
“We’re not chasing a moment in Vancouver – we’re building consistency. This weekend is about raising our standards in the details… if we get that right, it sets the tone for how we perform over the next two stops in South America. We want to leave Vancouver sharper and more connected than when we arrived.”
Jesse Kilgour, who made his international sevens debut in Hong Kong in 2024 and earned his first cap with Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team later that year in Bucharest, returns to competition following rehabilitation from a shoulder injury. Jesse will join his sister Eden in Vancouver who has been named to Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team.
Six members of the squad — Tremblay, Morra, Di Nardo, Black, Shaw, and Gallagher — recently represented Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team during their 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign and autumn test matches, bringing valuable international experience to the lineup and leaning on Rugby Canada’s One Squad philosophy which allows players to transition between the 15s and 7s game.
In Vancouver, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team Stephen Meehan joins Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen as assistant coach for the weekend. Together, they will lead the squad while further strengthening the cohesion and connectivity across programs — a collaborative approach that continues to drive Canadian rugby forward.
“Stephen’s involvement is part of our One Squad philosophy. When our programs align, we accelerate growth. That connection strengthens both environments and raises expectations across the system. It’s great having someone with Stephen’s experience around – his perspective adds real value to the group.”
Due to injury, Thomas Isherwood and Demetri Patterson were not available for selection. Kal Sager was not available for selection due to university commitments.
THE ROAD TO TIER 1 OF THE HSBC SVNS SERIES
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team claimed gold at the Rugby Americas North Sevens Tournament in November, earning qualification to the HSBC SVNS 3 Challenger.
In January, the team continued its strong performance by winning gold at the HSBC SVNS 3 Challenger in Dubai to secure a place in HSBC SVNS 2. SVNS 2 is a three-event series featuring Canada, Kenya, USA, Germany, Uruguay, and Belgium.
Canada opened the series with a sixth-place finish in Nairobi and will next compete in Montevideo (March 21–22) and São Paulo (March 28–29).
The top four teams at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS 2 series will advance to join the eight core teams on the HSBC SVNS Series for the three-event SVNS World Championship. The Championship begins in Hong Kong (April 17–19), followed by Valladolid (May 29–31) and Bordeaux (June 5–7). The series will culminate with the crowning of the Men’s and Women’s World Champions, marking the finale of the newly formatted HSBC SVNS Series announced in 2025.
TICKETS
Tickets for HSBC SVNS Vancouver are available at vansevens.com. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@vansevens.com. For more information on suites, please contact suites@vansevens.com. Please note that these inboxes will be monitored during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PT.
I thought Lockie Kratz played for UVic and CW, I don’t think he ever played for the Old boys?
He played a few games this year for them
What about Josiah Morra didn’t he play a game for us as well, Old Boys. Can’t we claim him also? Please correct if comment is wrong.
Other than Andy Cooper (Vancouver) – Meraloma Rugby Club- not other player from Vancouver, yet Saint George high school (Vancouver) consistently top Provincial rugby high school, what does this tell you?
Any feedback?
It doesn’t tell you anything. St George’s have won 2022-2024, majority of these players are 3-10 years older.
Low and Slow, I think my question may have been misunderstood. The beauty of AI
Below are the results:
BC Senior Boys Rugby Championship Highlights (Last 15 Years)
Year AAA / AAAA Champion Key Finalist / Notable Participant
2025 St. George’s School Shawnigan Lake School
2024 St. George’s School Shawnigan Lake School
2023 St. George’s School Shawnigan Lake School
2019 Shawnigan Lake School Earl Marriott Secondary
2018 Oak Bay High School Shawnigan Lake School
2017 Shawnigan Lake School St. George’s School
2016 Shawnigan Lake School Yale Secondary
2015 Shawnigan Lake School St. Michaels University School
2014 St. George’s School Shawnigan Lake School
2013 Shawnigan Lake School St. George’s School
2012 Shawnigan Lake School St. George’s School
2011 Shawnigan Lake School St. George’s School
2010 Shawnigan Lake School St. George’s School
St George has been consistent in sending top teams and player to the high school Provincial championship. My question is, with such a talent pool, how many players and percentage of grads go on to play and represent Canada. If the numbers are low then why? I do understand many go on to play at university and U20 level but stop after why? This question could apply to all private schools. If there is an issue identified then maybe Canada Rugby should maybe spending their time and resources looking eles where for future Canada talent. Just my opinion.
Only 3 over 20 years
Becasue I was curoius: I asked AI (please note AI response may have flaws but worth reviewing)
Question asked of AI to research:
How many of the boys that went to Saint Goerge High School in Vanocuver, BC and played in their Rugby program ended up playing and representing Canada under Rugby Canada’s 7s and 15s program over the last 20 years?
Copilot said:
Copilot
Short answer
At least 3 former St. George’s School (Vancouver) rugby players have gone on to represent Canada at the senior international level (Rugby Canada 7s and/or 15s) over the past 20 years (≈2006–2026), based on verifiable public records and school‑published confirmations.
How this number is determined (and why it’s conservative)
Because Rugby Canada does not publish centralized “feeder‑school” statistics, the only reliable way to answer this is by triangulating:
Official St. George’s School rugby program statements
Individual player biographies and international caps
Rugby Canada / Olympic documentation
Using that method, we can confirm three unique individuals with certainty.
Confirmed St. George’s alumni who represented Canada
✅ Conor Trainor (Class of 2007)
School: St. George’s School, Vancouver
Canada 15s:
Senior men’s national team
2011 Rugby World Cup
Canada 7s:
Pan American Games
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Trainor’s biography explicitly states he started playing rugby at St. George’s School and later represented Canada in both 7s and 15s.
wikipedia
✅ Two additional St. George’s alumni – Canada Men’s Olympic 7s (Tokyo 2020)
St. George’s School officially states:
*“Recently, *three St. George’s alumni appeared for the first ever Canadian Olympic Men’s Rugby Sevens team at Tokyo 2020.”
Since Conor Trainor is one of the three, this confirms two additional St. George’s graduates who:
Played in the Rugby Canada Men’s Sevens program
Represented Canada at the Olympic level (2020)
While the school does not name them publicly on the program page, the statement itself is authoritative and verifiable.
bc
Final confirmed count (last 20 years)
Category Number
Unique St. George’s alumni who represented Canada (7s and/or 15s) 3
Canada 7s representatives 3
Canada 15s representatives At least 1 (Trainor)
✅ Answer: 3 players (minimum confirmed)
After reading the results, my interpretation is that most but not all the boys that come out of St George’s rugby program do not really have the incentive to play higher, therefore Rugby Canada should be identifying and spending money and resource developing players at the U16, U18, U19 level who may not be as talents at a young age but on players that have a strong desire, heart, motiviation, pride and commitament to continue to develop and play. I think this may just apply to all private shools in BC. Just my opinion
Adam Doane plays for UVic Vikes.
Shane, thank you for updating. I think it is important to acknowledge the University and Clubs, and the youth program that players come from that were responsible for their early development. To credit the coaches, programs and clubs in players early Developement and not to “Name drop” clubs of players parachuted in or temp players. I think it would be important to the Canada Rugby program to know where exactly our players are coming from, just my opinion.