Canada ready for Namibia in u20 Trophy Opener

Canada’s top age grade players will take part in the opening match of the 2017 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament in Montevideo on Tuesday. Namibia will be their opponent as the team returns to the world stage following a one-year hiatus. Only one change has been made to the starting team that earned qualification against the All-Americans in June.

Brumbies academy winger Cole Davis replaces the injured Elias Ergas in an otherwise unchanged run-on side. Two further alterations are on the bench. Niko Clironomos takes the reserve backs spot left vacant by Davis. With only 22 players allowed in match day squads the versatile Jack McRogers will fill the No 16 shirt with specialist hooker Steven Ng forced to sit out.

The tournament has historically been difficult for Canada, who have not never won the Tier 2 competition after dropping from the Tier 1 u20 Championship in 2010. Runners-up in both 2013 and 2015, a new group of promising players will look to make waves with Chile and Japan also bracketed in Pool A.

Leading the team is Clermont academy centre George Barton, one of three players in the team who have already won senior caps. The others are Pau academy lock Matt Beukeboom and Atlantic Rock prop Cole Keith. James O’Neill, Will Kelly, Anton Ngongo, and Aidan McMullan each appeared in Canadian Rugby Championship matches this season, with Ngongo and McMullan selected to Canada ‘A’ tours in 2016.

Kickoff is set for 10am local time, 9am Eastern. A live stream will be provided by World Rugby.

CANADA
1 Liam Murray, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Liam Doll, 5 Matt Beukeboom, 6 Lachlan Currie, 7 James O’Neill, 8 Jake Thiel, 9 Fraser Hurst, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Cole Davis, 12 Josh Thiel, 13 George Barton (capt.), 14 Anton Ngongo, 15 Aidan McMullan

Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Connor Sampson, 18 Nick Frost, 19 Jamie McNaughton, 20 William McDougall-Percillier, 21 Brennig Prevost, 22 Niko Clironomos