Canada change three for UK Tour

Canada have made three changes to their original ‘A’ squad headed to the UK next week. Benoît Pifféro, Ben LeSage, and Phil Mackenzie have dropped out of the two-match trip. Called up as replacements are Eric Howard and two uncapped midfielders, Doug Fraser and Sam Hayward.

Ontario Blues standout Howard made his test debut against Brazil in February and has now won five caps as a replacement, the last coming in the Italy match at BMO Field in June. The form hooker in the Canadian Rugby Championship, he was a surprise omission from the original squad with coach Mark Anscombe reportedly keen to look at Pifféro and Alex Mascott first hand.

Fraser is set to earn his first Canada colors after impressing with the BC Bears. The 24-year-old also featured for Castaway Wanderers in the CDI Premier League having spent the previous four seasons at UVic. Fraser’s low centre of gravity and upper body strength are features of his direct attacking style.

Sydney-born Hayward qualifies via his Canadian mother and was previously part of the u20 side that traveled to Hong Kong in 2014. A centre or fullback, the 21-year-old is very tall for a back and his versatility has also seen him line up for Canada’s Maple Leafs development side in 7s. Hayward arrives from the Parramatta club in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition, previously the home of current Canadian international Evan Olmstead.

Originally set to be a 28-player three-match tour, it appears the proposed tilt against Glasgow Warriors on Tuesday, August 30, has now been cancelled by the Scottish club. The Guinness Pro 12 is set to kick off just three days later. Matches against Greene King IPA Championship finalists Doncaster Knights and Ulster Ravens remain in place, with the squad now set at 26 players.

FORWARDS
Peter Houlihan (Strathcona Druids / Prairie Wolf Pack), Ryan Kotlewski (Calgary Saints / Prairie Wolf Pack), Anthony Luca (Burnaby Lake / BC Bears), Cody McClary (Port Alberni Black Sheep / BC Bears), Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins / Ontario Blues), Alex Mascott (UBC Thunderbirds / BC Bears), Kyle Baillie (Ohio Aviators, USA), Conor Keys (Barrhaven Scottish / Atlantic Rock), Adrian Wadden (Oakville Crusaders / Ontario Blues), Lucas Albornoz (St. Albert / Prairie Wolf Pack), Admir Cejvanovic (Burnaby Lake / BC Bears), Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers / Prairie Wolf Pack), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK / Atlantic Rock), Ollie Nott (UVic Vikes / BC Bears)

BACKS
Dan Joyce (Trinity College, IR), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets / Prairie Wolf Pack), Aidan McMullan (SABRFC / Atlantic Rock), Patrick Parfrey (Swilers / Atlantic Rock), Robbie Povey (Calgary Irish / Prairie Wolf Pack), Doug Fraser (Castaway Wanderers / BC Bears), Sam Hayward (Parramatta, AU), Mozac Samson (Calgary Saints / Prairie Wolf Pack), Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga Blues / Ontario Blues), Dan Moor (Balmy Beach / Ontario Blues), Jordan Wilson-Ross (James Bay / Ontario Blues), Brock Staller (UBC Thunderbirds / BC Bears)

FIXTURES
SAT, AUG 20 – 06:30 PT, 09:30 ET, 14:30 local – vs Doncaster Knights, Castle Park
FRI, AUG 26 – 09:15 PT, 12:15 ET, 17:15 local – vs Ulster Ravens, Kingspan Stadium