Canada test youth at Americas Pacific Challenge

Canada will hand opportunities to 12 uncapped players when they travel to Uruguay for the Americas Pacific Challenge. The youthful size will be coached by Mike Shelley, Francois Ratier, and Chris Silverthorn with players drawn largely from the recently completed Canadian Rugby Championship.

Among the youngsters are three members of the World Rugby u20 Trophy squad including props Liam Murray and Cole Keith, and fullback Aidan McMullan. Keith has already won two senior caps as a replacement during the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship. Atlantic Rock hooker Martial Lagain earns a spot, as does former national u20 lock Adrian Wadden, now at Leeds Beckett University in the UK. Canada Sevens cap Dustin Dobravsky is named as is his BC Bears back row mate Travis Larsen and Ontario Blues flanker Peter Milazzo.

In the backs there are places for UBC Thunderbirds graduate Jorden Sandover-Best who joins Ontario’s Andrew Ferguson as the chosen scrumhalves. Physical midfielder Mike Nieuwenhuysen gets the call after impressing for the Bears in the CRC, and there are surprise choices in versatile inside back Mitch Richardson and Wolf Pack winger Conor Desmond. Another Canada sevens rep, Karsten Leitner, gets a shot to impress in the full code.

Among those returning to contention after time away is 43-cap loosehead prop Hubert Buydens, now recovered from a long-term knee injury, and World Cup flanker Kyle Gilmour, back in action after suffering a facial fracture during the 2016 ARC. Truro Saints speedster Brett Johnson, who recently moved to Victoria’s Castaway Wanderers, is also included having not appeared in a Canadian XVs jersey since winning both of his caps during that same competition.

The tournament kicks off on October 7. All matches are expected to be streamed by World Rugby. A detailed roster list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Rob Brouwer (Lindsay / Ontario Blues), Hubert Buydens (Castaway Wanderers / Prairie Wolf Pack), Cole Keith (James Bay / Atlantic Rock), Ryan Kotlewski (Westshore / Prairie Wolf Pack), Liam Murray (Langley), Ray Barkwill (Castaway Wanderers), Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins / Ontario Blues), Martial Lagain (Sherbrooke Abénakis / Atlantic Rock), Liam Chisholm (Castaway Wanderers), Conor Keys (UVic Vikes / Atlantic Rock), Adrian Wadden (Leeds Beckett University, UK), Dustin Dobravsky (Castaway Wanderers / BC Bears), Kyle Gilmour (St. Albert / Prairie Wolf Pack), Travis Larsen (James Bay / BC Bears), Peter Milazzo (Toronto Saracens / Ontario Blues), Lucas Rumball (James Bay / Ontario Blues)

BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Oakville Crusaders / Ontario Blues), Jorden Sandover-Best (UBCOB Ravens), Patrick Parfrey (James Bay / Atlantic Rock), Robbie Povey (Castaway Wanderers / Prairie Wolf Pack), Guiseppe du Toit (UVic Vikes / BC Bears), Mike Nieuwenhuysen (James Bay / BC Bears), Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek Camels / Ontario Blues), Conor Desmond (Calgary Irish / Prairie Wolf Pack), Brett Johnson (Castaway Wanderers / Atlantic Rock), Karsten Leitner (UBCOB Ravens / BC Bears), Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga Blues / Ontario Blues), Aidan McMullan (UVic Vikes / Atlantic Rock)

FIXTURES
Oct 7 – 14:00 local / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT – vs Argentina XV
Oct 11 – 11:30 local / 10:30 ET / 07:30 PT – vs Tonga ‘A’
Oct 15 – 14:00 local / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT – vs USA Select XV