Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Ontario Blues have named their roster for their opening match of the 2017 Canadian Rugby Championship as they face the Atlantic Rock at Farnham Mill Rugby Park in Truro, Nova Scotia, on Saturday. While this will be the first regular match of the season for both sides, they met in Peterborough just two weeks ago for a pre-season friendly that saw the Blues come away 29-17 winners.
Canadian international prop Rob Brouwer will lead the side, one of nine capped players in the squad. Fellow prop Tom Dolezel and hooker Eric Howard give them an all-international front row to call upon while Lucas Rumball and Andrew Wilson are set to start in the back row. Scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson will look to provide quick ball for an exciting outside back trio of Kainoa Lloyd, Dan Moor, and Rory McDonell, all of whom have played test rugby in 2017.
Current Canada u20 flyhalf Will Kelly has been called up for the trip, joining previous national age-grade reps AJ Quattrin, Peter Milazzo, and Alex Colborne on the young roster. Missing out due to injury are Paul Ciulini, Seb Pearson, and Jon West, while incumbent Canada loosehead Djustice Sears-Duru is unavailable.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 4pm Eastern, with a live stream available on TV1 Atlantic.
FORWARDS
Rob Brouwer (capt., Lindsay), Tom Dolezel (London St. George’s), Pat Lynott (Bytown Blues), Ryan Surgenor (Bytown Blues), Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins), AJ Quattrin (Aurora Barbarians), Kolby Francis (Brantford Harlequins), Hank McQueen (Balmy Beach), Mike Sheppard (Stoney Creek Camels), Peter Milazzo (Toronto Saracens), Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach), Andrew Wilson (Oakville Crusaders), Jeremy Wright (Lindsay)
BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Oakville Crusaders), Mario van der Westhuizen (Guelph Redcoats), Will Kelly (Brantford Harlequins), Shawn Windsor (Stoney Creek Camels), Josh Campbell (London St. George’s), Alex Colborne (Toronto Scottish), Johnny Sheridan (Markham Irish), Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga Blues), Dan Moor (Balmy Beach), Rory McDonell (Brantford Harlequins)
