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Toronto Arrows fullback Theo Sauder is not part of Canada’s 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. The mercurial 23-year-old was first choice during November’s Repechage series. A shoulder injury ruled him out of the Pacific Nations Cup, but despite impressing against the BC All-Star XV on Friday he will not be among those traveling to Japan.
Head Coach Kingsley Jones has made only one change to the group initially selected for the PNC. Arrows prop Rob Brouwer is left out, with Canada Sevens rep Andrew Coe added to the outside backs. Taylor Paris was eventually replaced by Kainoa Lloyd ahead of the PNC, but Paris is fit to travel this time with Lloyd omitted.
Sauder’s absence suggests that Patrick Parfrey will occupy the fullback position with former Ulster fullback Peter Nelson set to continue at flyhalf. Elsewhere only two looseheads props are named with the versatile Noah Barker left out in favor of a third specialist at hooker.
Canada will play their final warm-up game against the USA at BC Place in Vancouver on Saturday. They will compete in Pool B at the World Cup along with Italy, Namibia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Hubert Buydens (NOLA Gold), Djustice Sears-Duru (Seattle Seawolves), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Benoît Pifféro (Blagnac, FR), Andrew Quattrin (Toronto Arrows), Jake Ilnicki (Seattle Seawolves), Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows), Matt Tierney (Pau, FR), Conor Keys (Rotherham Titans, UK), Evan Olmstead (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Mike Sheppard (Toronto Arrows), Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold), Justin Blanchet (Bedford Blues, UK), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK), Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows), Tyler Ardron (capt., Chiefs, NZ), Luke Campbell (Toronto Arrows)
BACKS
Phil Mack (Seattle Seawolves), Jamie Mackenzie (Toronto Arrows), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets), Peter Nelson (Ulster, IR), Shane O’Leary (Nottingham, UK), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Ciaran Hearn (London Irish, UK), Ben LeSage (UBC Thunderbirds), Conor Trainor (Nevers, FR), Jeff Hassler (Seattle Seawolves), Taylor Paris (Castres, FR), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Andrew Coe (Markam Irish / Canada Sevens), Patrick Parfrey (Toronto Arrows)
