Six provinces combine in Rock squad for CRC

A combination of players from six provinces will make up Canada’s Eastern Canadian regional side for the senior men’s edition of the 2018 Canadian Rugby Championship. The team itself has undergone a change of identity. It is now known as the Quebec-Atlantic Rock though three of the group hail from Ontario. Coaching the side is returning duo Simon Blanks of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia’s Jack Hanratty, who will also have help from former Canada Senior Women’s head coach François Ratier.

The renaming can be attributed to the eight Quebec players in the squad and also the location of their only home fixture at Concordia University in Montreal. Newfoundland also contribute eight, with Nova Scotia next at five, PEI two, and one from New Brunswick. Several currently play their club rugby outside of the Quebec-Atlantic region.

Returning to the squad after missing out on last year are tighthead prop Keelan Chapman, flank-turned-lock Toni Wodzicki, and loose forward Matt Murphy. Chapman is dual-qualified for Canada and Hong Kong, where he currently resides, and in theory could line up for the Dragons against Canada in the Repechage this November though his current ambition looks to be making the Canadian squad. Newcomer Federico Cisneros, a flyhalf or fullback, is another interesting addition having represented his home country of Mexico at age-grade levels.

Former Canada scrumhalf Jamie Mackenzie, a member of the 2015 World Cup squad, puts on the boots again after a two-year hiatus from representative rugby. Fellow international Jordan Wilson-Ross also returns out of hiding after a similar break and looks set to run out in the midfield. Ontario Arrows utility back Josh Campbell will play for the Rock after being left out of the Blues squad.

There are two others set to make their senior Rock debut. Windsor Machine second row Mark O’Reilly is rewarded for good form with the Nova Scotia Keltics and speedy winger Maxime Perreault-Brière gets the call from the Quebec provincial side.

2011 World Cup prop Frank Walsh continues his Rock career at the age of 41, with 21-year-old current Canada prop Cole Keith also named. Flanker Matt Heaton and the versatile Patrick Parfrey were part of the June test squad, and two more Arrows reps are present in PEI prop Alex Forrest and Nova Scotia flyhalf Cooper Coats. Livewire openside Moe Abdelmonem joins up with the squad after spending the past few months in New Zealand playing for Spotswood United.

The Rock open their campaign against the Ontario Blues on Saturday, with a second match scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, in Burlington. At stake are rankings for the CRC Finals to be held in Calgary beginning on August 23.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Keelan Chapman (Hong Kong FC / SABRFC / QC), Alex Forrest (Ontario Arrows / Mudmen / PE), Cole Keith (James Bay / Belleisle Rovers / NB), Jordon Power (Dogs / NL), Frank Walsh (Vandals / NL), Martial Lagain (Westshore / Sherbrooke Abénakis / QC), Owen Parfrey (Swilers / NL), Brad Lester (Dogs / NL), Mark O’Reilly (Windsor Machine / NS), Toni Wodzicki (Balmy Beach / Montreal Wanderers / QC), Moe Abdelmonem (Spotswood United, NZ / James Bay / Halifax Tars / NS), Liam Carter (Mudmen / PE), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK / SABRFC / QC), Lucas Hotton (Concordia Stingers / TMR / QC), Matt Murphy (Dogs / NL)

BACKS
Graham Barry (Halifax Tars / NS), Jamie Mackenzie (Oakville Crusaders / ON), Tony Pomroy (Baymen / NL), Federico Cisneros (Western Mustangs / Windsor Machine / NS), Cooper Coats (Ontario Arrows / Halifax Tars / NS), Charles DeBove (SABRFC / QC), Aidan McMullan (UVic Vikes / SABRFC / QC), Jordan Wilson-Ross (James Bay / Barrie / ON), Josh Campbell (Ontario Arrows / London St. George’s / ON), Patrick McNicholas (Swilers / NL), Maxime Perreault-Brière (Sherbrooke Vert et Or / Montreal Irish / QC), Patrick Parfrey (James Bay / Swilers / NL)