Canada Selects named for France trip

Kingsley Jones has selected a 31-man Canada Selects roster for a two-match trip to France later this month. The fixtures against Top 14 sides Castres Olympique and Clermont Auvergne are part of Canada’s preparations for the World Cup qualifiers in November, to take place in Marseille.

The squad is composed largely of domestic talent with six players currently playing elsewhere. Phil Mack captains the squad and is joined by Seattle Seawolves teammate Ray Barkwill, with a third Major League Rugby representative in NOLA Gold vice-captain Eric Howard. France-based Benoît Pifféro sees his first international action since early February and two players currently situated in England are named in flanker Matt Heaton and Leeds Beckett second row Adrian Wadden.

Wadden is one of five uncapped players named. Ontario Blues lock Mike Sheppard is rewarded for his good form with the Arrows and South African prop Clint Lemkus will travel despite not being eligible for Canada on residency until August 2019. Injury to Nick Blevins sees Mike Nieuwenhuysen called into the midfield and UVic Vikes utility Aidan McMullan rounds out a backs division with plenty of options.

Those based domestically will return to their regional sides following the tour to compete in the finals of the Canadian Rugby Championship.

FORWARDS
Noah Barker (BC Bears), Cole Keith (Quebec-Atlantic Rock), Ryan Kotlewski (Prairie Wolf Pack), Clint Lemkus (BC Bears), Djustice Sears-Duru (Ontario Blues), Ray Barkwill (Seattle Seawolves, US), Eric Howard (New Orleans Gold, US / Ontario Blues), Benoît Pifféro (Blagnac, FR), Paul Ciulini (Ontario Blues), Conor Keys (UVic Vikes), Mike Sheppard (Ontario Blues), Adrian Wadden (Leeds Beckett, UK), Kyle Baillie (Quebec-Atlantic Rock), Luke Campbell (BC Bears), Dustin Dobravsky (BC Bears), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK / Quebec-Atlantic Rock), Lucas Rumball (Ontario Blues)

BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Ontario Blues), Phil Mack (capt., Seattle Seawolves, US), Jorden Sandover-Best (BC Bears), Robbie Povey (Prairie Wolf Pack), Theo Sauder (BC Bears), Guiseppe du Toit (BC Bears), Doug Fraser (BC Bears), Ben LeSage (Prairie Wolf Pack), Mike Nieuwenhuysen (BC Bears), Cole Davis (Prairie Wolf Pack), Kainoa Lloyd (Ontario Blues), Aidan McMullan (Quebec-Atlantic Rock), Patrick Parfrey (Quebec-Atlantic Rock), Josh Thiel (BC Bears)

FIXTURES
Sat, Aug 11 – 18:00 local, 12:00 ET, 09:00 PT – vs Castres Olympique, Lacaune
Fri, Aug 17 – 20:00 local, 14:00 ET, 11:00 PT – vs Clermont Auvergne, Issoire