BC Bears named for CRC opener

The BC Bears have named a strong 23-man roster for their opening match of the 2018 Canadian Rugby Championship against the Prairie Wolf Pack at Calgary Rugby Park on Friday, July 27. It’s a side that shows dramatic changes from the team that lifted the MacTier Cup last year, but one that includes nine capped at senior test level.

Incumbent Canada No8 Luke Campbell will captain the side with June international teammates Noah Barker, Dustin Dobravsky, Jorden Sandover-Best, Theo Sauder, Guiseppe du Toit, and Doug Fraser all named. UVic flanker Ollie Nott won two caps during the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship while Abbotsford midfielder Josh Thiel debuted against Chile in March.

Jared Douglas joins the side from the Canada Sevens setup and is set to play on the wing along with Clayton Meeres, himself a former national sevens representative who was also selected to the Canada ‘A’ squad for the 2012 ARC as a 20-year-old. Canada u20 scrumhalf Fraser Hurst is set to play fullback, a position he has occupied for the UBC Thunderbirds this season.

[EDIT NOTE: An official BCRU press release erroneously listed Justin Douglas in the squad. It is in fact brother Jared, not Justin, who will play for the Bears.]

There are slim pickings at tighthead prop, with Ontario Arrows rep Clint Lemkus the only specialist named. Barker has played there for James Bay this season but his Canada duty has been on the loosehead side. Craig McLaughlin and Shea Wakefield are the only second rows listed with no sign of Connor Weyell or test veteran Liam Chisholm.

The team is also under new leadership with Dean Murten returning to the lead coaching role, Tony Healy and Phil Mack both departing. Mack is one of five players who joined the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby following last season’s success.

FORWARDS
Noah Barker (James Bay), John Braddock (Castaway Wanderers), Clint Lemkus (UBC Thunderbirds), Liam Murray (James Bay), Paul Ahn (UBCOB Ravens), Steven Ng (James Bay), Craig McLaughlin (Burnaby Lake), Shea Wakefield (James Bay), Luke Campbell (capt., James Bay), Dustin Dobravsky (Castaway Wanderers), Connor McCann (Meralomas), Ollie Nott (UVic Vikes), Nathan Stewart (Castaway Wanderers)

BACKS
James Pitblado (UVic Vikes), Jorden Sandover-Best (UBCOB Ravens), Theo Sauder (UBC Thunderbirds), Guiseppe du Toit (UVic Vikes), Doug Fraser (Castaway Wanderers), Mike Nieuwenhuysen (James Bay), Josh Thiel (Abbotsford), Jared Douglas (Abbotsford), Clayton Meeres (James Bay), Fraser Hurst (UBC Thunderbirds)

STAFF
Head Coach – Dean Murten
Coach – Jebb Sinclair
Coach – Scott Manning
Coach – Mario Domingues
Coach – Angel Coividanes
Manager – Des Lynch