Canada name side for Pacific Challenge

Some new faces will run out for Canada ‘A’ in the upcoming Americas Pacific Challenge. The new tournament will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, with the first round of matches slated for October 8. Included on the Canadian roster are four players entirely new to this level of competition with only a dozen fully capped players among the 26 named. The core of the side that traveled to the UK recently is retained with 16 players taking part on this trip.

San Diego Breakers captain Phil Mackenzie joins up with the squad after opting out of both the June tests and August tour, while fellow Oakville, Ontario, native Andrew Ferguson has recovered from a broken hand suffered during the Canadian Rugby Championship to take up a halfback spot. Promising flanker Lucas Rumball has also recovered from injury to travel, as will Ontario Blues teammate Rob Brouwer, who returns to the group for the first time since the Americas Rugby Championship in March.

Veteran BC Bears prop Ryan Ackerman earns international recognition for the first time while former Bayonne Academy hooker Martial Lagain gets a look-in after impressing during the CRC with the Atlantic Rock. Two bolters come in from club rugby. Brantford Harlequins captain Rory McDonell has been plucked out of Ontario’s Marshall Premiership to cover fullback, with his strong goalkicking ability sure to feature. Castaway Wanderers provide winger Anton Ngongo, who was a standout with the BC u19 side earlier this summer. Standing 6’3″ (1.91m), the teenager boasts a solid combination of size and speed and has already imposed himself on the CDI Premier League.

The squad is composed almost entirely of domestic players, with UK-based duo Matt Heaton and Robbie Povey the only players currently residing outside of the country. Mackenzie has yet to see the pitch on Canadian soil since the end of the PRO Rugby season. A captain has not been named with match day options including Mackenzie, UK Tour skipper Gordon McRorie and experienced hooker Ray Barkwill.

Canada’s campaign will begin against ARC rivals Argentina, followed by a North American derby against the USA. The schedule wraps up with a tough match against Samoa ‘A’, a side largely composed from New Zealand club rugby. Streaming details for the entirety of the tournament from Estadio Charrúa have yet to be confirmed.

FORWARDS
Ryan Ackerman (Burnaby Lake), Rob Brouwer (Lindsay), Peter Houlihan (UBCOB Ravens), Ryan Kotlewski (Westshore), Ray Barkwill (Castaway Wanderers), Martian Lagain (CRQ), Kyle Baillie (Westshore), Conor Keys (UVic Vikes), Adrian Wadden (James Bay), Lucas Albornoz (Burnaby Lake), Admir Cejvanovic (Burnaby Lake), Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK), Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach)

BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Oakville Crusaders), Gordon McRorie (UBCOB Ravens), Guiseppe du Toit (UVic Vikes), Patrick Parfrey (James Bay), Robbie Povey (Bedford Athletic, UK), Doug Fraser (Castaway Wanderers), Ben LeSage (UBC Thunderbirds), Phil Mackenzie (unattached), Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga Blues), Dan Moor (Castaway Wanderers), Anton Ngongo (Castaway Wanderers), Rory McDonell (Brantford Harlequins)

FIXTURES
Oct 8 – 10:30 PT / 13:30 ET – vs Argentina XV
Oct 12 – 12:30 PT / 15:30 ET – vs USA Selects
Oct 16 – 10:30 PT / 13:30 ET – vs Samoa ‘A’