Trio added to final Canada u20 camp

Canada u20 begins their final preparations for the February 13 qualifying match against the USA in Texas this weekend, with 39 players headed to Victoria to stake their claim on one of 26 final roster spots for the one-off match. With victory comes a ticket to the World Rugby u20 Trophy in Zimbabwe, the second tier age-grade competition that has become a hotbed for professional rugby scouts and selectors looking to unearth the next hidden gem.

Injuries to three players – props Callum Passingham and Cali Martinez, and flanker Jason Hignell – have opened the door for three others to take part and potentially earn a spot in the squad. Beaconsfield prop Marco Caza, UBC Old Boys fullback Sean Hase, and Irish flyhalf Charlie McMickan have been called up, the first two having been part of the initial training camp in September. McMickan hails from Athlone, Ireland, where he plays for the Buccaneers club and has represented Connacht at u19 level.

Joining coaches Jeff Williams, Ken Goodland, and manager Jack Hanratty in the camp are guest coaches Gabriel Fulcher, David Butcher, and Morgan Williams. Fulcher is a former Ireland international second row who was recently appointed Head Coach of the BC Bears. Butcher is Ontario’s High Performance Manager and a specialist scrum coach. The latter Williams is of course brother of Jeff and a former national senior men’s scrumhalf and captain. With six scrumhalves in camp fighting for no more than two or three spots, he should have his hands full in evaluating the finer details of halfback play.

The final group of 26 will be named following the camp’s conclusion on January 30.

FORWARDS
Justin Aylward (Baymen), Brendan Blaikie (Markham Irish / Queen’s Golden Gaels), Marco Caza (Beaconsfield), Curtis Delmonico (UBCOB Ravens), Matt Tierney (Mississauga Blues / Pau, FR), Foster DeWitt (Campbell River / UBC Thunderbirds), AJ Quattrin (Aurora Barbarians / Laurier Golden Hawks), Connor Sampson (Burnaby Lake), Matt Beukeboom (Lindsay / Queen’s Golden Gaels), Trevor Helgason (UBCOB Ravens / Queen’s Golden Gaels), Conor Keys (Barrhaven Scottish / UVic Vikes), Reegan O’Gorman (Vancouver Rowing Club / Marist Albion, NZ), Adrian Wadden (Oakville Crusaders / McMaster Marauders), Peter Milazzo (Toronto Saracens / Western Mustangs), Nakai Penny (UBC Thunderbirds), Marcello Wainwright (Toronto Saracens / Guelph Gryphons), Luke Bradley (Port Alberni / UVic Vikes)

BACKS
Trevor Caton (Vancouver Rowing Club), Matt Gallagher (Bayside / UVic Vikes), Cole Keffer (Capilano / UBC Thunderbirds), Aria Keshoofy (Ottawa Gee-Gees), Keaton Porter (Aurora Barbarians), Gavin Rowell (Abbotsford / UVic Vikes), Cooper Coates (Halifax Tars), Charlie McMickan (Buccaneers / Connacht, IR), Robbie Povey (Northampton Saints, UK), Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek / McMaster Marauders), George Barton (Cowichan / Clermont Auvergne, FR), Phil Berna (UBCOB Ravens / UBC Thunderbirds), Trent Cooper (Oshawa Vikings / James Bay), Kyle Lagasca (Toronto Saracens / Guelph Gryphons), Will Manhire (London Scottish, UK), Aaron Evison (James Bay), Cathal Long (UVic Vikes), Brandon McLeod (Cobourg Saxons / Guelph Gryphons), Theo Sauder (Vancouver Rowing Club / UBC Thunderbirds), Andrew Coe (Markham Irish / UBC Thunderbirds), Sean Hase (UBCOB Ravens), Liam O’Hallahan (Grande Prairie Centaurs)

Head Coach – Jeff Williams
Assistant Coach – Ken Goodland
Manager – Jack Hanratty
Video Analyst – Aaron Takel
Strength and Conditioning – Gareth Lynch
Head Therapist – Jessica Smith