Wolf Pack names squad for North Otago

Nick Blevins is back in Wolf Pack colors for the first time this season. The Canadian international has returned from PRO Rugby duties with the San Francisco Rush to lace up the boots again for his home-based regional side. Blevins heads up a squad that includes five further capped players to face New Zealand provincial side North Otago at Calgary Rugby Park on Sunday.

Also returning for the Wolf Pack is Gordon McRorie, the influential halfback who missed the last three games of the Canadian Rugby Championship with injury. Ryan Kotlewski, Nanyak Dala, Jake Robinson, and captain Clay Panga are all included, as are new Canada ‘A’ selections Peter Houlihan, Lucas Albornoz, and Ben LeSage.

CRC starters Robbie Povey and Mozac Samson miss out. Povey has returned to England for university commitments before joining up with the Canadian squad for their UK tour later this month. Samson is injured but is expected to be fit in time to tour.

North Otago got their three-match tour of Western Canada off to a winning start, defeating Canada u19 by a score of 50-14 on Wednesday at Westhills Stadium in Langford. Sunday’s match kicks off at 1pm local time. Tickets are available online at ShowPass.

FORWARDS
John Braddock (Rams), Peter Houlihan (Druids), Ryan Kotlewski (Saints), Nick McAuley (Saints), Matt Harrison (St. Albert), Casey Reed (Clansmen), Eric Lopatinsky (Hornets), Connor Sorensen (Saints), Conor Turner (Hornets), Lucas Albornoz (St. Albert), Grant Crowell (Rams), Nanyak Dala (Wild Oats), Wayde Hodgen (Hornets), Clay Panga (capt., Hornets)

BACKS
Jake Bentley (Canucks), Jake Robinson (St. Albert), Cam Hall (Druids), Gordon McRorie (Hornets), Nick Blevins (Hornets), James Buchanan (Hornets), Ben LeSage (Canucks), Adam Bontus (St. Albert), Conor Desmond (Irish), Ian Shoults (Irish), Graham Turner (Hornets)