Canada names u20 Men’s Long List

Jeff Williams has named an extended squad of 44 players to prepare for the World Rugby u20 Trophy qualifier series against the USA. The former Canadian international takes charge for the a fourth straight year having led the team to a series victory over the All-Americans in 2017.

Six players who traveled to Montevideo in August have returned for a second year, two of them forwards. Ontario Arrows hooker Jack McRogers is already making his mark in senior rugby as is openside flanker James O’Neill, who debuted for the Prairie Wolf Pack in the 2017 Canadian Rugby Championship and was part of senior Canadian training sessions earlier this year.

Highly-rated scrumhalf Will Percillier is joined by accomplished kicker Brennig Prevost in the halfbacks. Utility back Evan Norris gets the call as does 1.95m (6’5″) winger Jack McCarthy, another who made his senior CRC debut last year with the Atlantic Rock.

There are family ties in Quentin James, son of four-time World Cup lock Mike James, who has followed his father’s footsteps to France where he is in the Perpignan academy. Another familiar name is Toronto Nomads outside back James Hammond, brother of current Canada Sevens standout Lucas Hammond.

James is one of four players currently playing their club rugby outside of Canada. Flanker Pete Ingoldsby arrives from Exmouth having also spent time in the Exeter Chiefs academy system. In the outside backs are Stanislaus Blazkowski who plays for Narbonne’s age-grade side in France, and Seth Purdey, currently plying his trade alongside some future opponents with the University of California Golden Bears.

A selection camp will be held at Shawnigan Lake School beginning on May 15 with a trial match set for May 19. The squad will then be reduced to 26 traveling players and four non-traveling reserves who will stay in camp through to June 7, with preparation matches against representative opposition on May 26 and June 1.

This year’s qualifying series against the Junior All-Americans will be the same two-leg format as in 2017. The USA will host this time on June 12 and 16 at venues still to be determined. The winner on aggregate will advance to the 2018 World Rugby u20 Trophy that will be hosted in Bucharest, Romania, beginning on August 24 through September 10.

The naming of the extended squad coincides with the confirmation of a new age-grade plan for the u18 and u20 programs. A four-year agreement between Canada and the USA will see two sides at each age group traveling to the USA in December of each year to compete in a mini-tournament with two equivalent Junior All-American sides.

Also of note is the formation of the Canada u20 Support Group, chaired by Dog River Howlers founder Karl Fix. The group has been tasked with raising capital to reduce or eliminate the pay-to-play model at the u20 level. Other members of the group include David Robertson, Andrew Purdey, Bill Webb, Mike Holmes, and Dr. Pat Parfrey.

 

2018 CANADA u20 MEN’S LONG LIST

PROP
Damon Adams (Castaway Wanderers)
Spencer Cooper (UVic Vikes)
Gavin Kratz (Castaway Wanderers / UVic Vikes)
Stephen Mallard (Swilers)
Emerson Prior (Trent Excalibur)
Tyler Rowland (Toronto Nomads / UBC Thunderbirds)
Sam Turner (UBC Thunderbirds)

HOOKER
Jack McRogers (Aurora Barbarians / McMaster Marauders / Ontario Arrows)
Harrison Smith (UBC Thunderbirds)
David Stoltz (Barrhaven Scottish)
Tyler Wong (Capilano / UVic Vikes)

LOCK
Hammad Babatunde (Winnipeg Assassins)
Aidan Foley (Oakville Crusaders / Western Mustangs)
Quentin James (Perpignan, FR)
Jackson Marquardt (Barrhaven Scottish / Concordia Stingers)
Jordon Montgomery (Mudmen / Castaway Wanderers)
Henry Stevenson (Toronto Nomads)

BACK ROW
Reid Davis (Bayside Sharks)
Peyton Eagar (Nanaimo Hornets)
Pete Ingoldsby (Exmouth, UK)
Jackson Matthews (Beaconsfield / UVic Vikes)
Ben Newhook (Vandals)
James O’Neill (Calgary Canucks / UVic Vikes)
Alex Pipchuk (Calgary Canucks / Queen’s Golden Gaels)
Owain Ruttan (Cobourg Saxons / UBC Thunderbirds)
Michael Smith (Bayside Sharks / UBC Thunderbirds)

SCRUMHALF
Josh Engelbrecht (Oakville Crusaders / Queen’s Golden Gaels)
Brock Gallagher (James Bay)
Will Percillier (Cowichan Piggies / UBC Thunderbirds)
Brandon Schellenberger (Castaway Wanderers)

FLYHALF
Steve Commerford (Peterborough Pagans / Brock Badgers)
Logan Martin-Feek (Westshore / UVic Vikes)
Brennig Prevost (Castaway Wanderers / UVic Vikes)

CENTRE
Mostyn Findley (Regina Rogues / UVic Vikes)
John Jubenvill (Bayside Sharks / UBC Thunderbirds)
Jake Lan (Capilano / UBC Thunderbirds)
Evan Norris (Beaconsfield / UBC Thunderbirds)
Kevin Vertkas (Toronto Nomads / UBC Thunderbirds)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Stanislaus Blazkowski (Narbonne, FR)
Elias Ergas (Capilano / UBC Thunderbirds)
Ethan Hager (Brantford Harlequins / UVic Vikes)
James Hammond (Toronto Nomads)
Jack McCarthy (Vandals / UVic Vikes)
Seth Purdey (UCal Golden Bears, US)

STAFF
Head Coach – Jeff Williams
Assistant Coach – Adam Roberts
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Adam Kleeberger
Manager – Dr. Pat Parfrey
Co-Manager – Mike Flynn
Video Analyst – Derrick Pue
Physiotherapist – Kiyomi Thompson