Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Canada has secured a fixture against one of Europe’s top club sides as part of their build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field will again play host to international rugby as Leinster arrives on Saturday, August 24.
The 24,000 seat stadium last housed Canada in June 2017 when they fought to a 28-all draw against the USA during the Americas 1 World Cup Qualifying series. Toronto’s BMO Field has been the favored venue in Ontario in recent years but it was already booked by professional soccer team Toronto FC on the desired August date.
Leinster is among the world’s most successful domestic sides in recent years. They are the defending champions of both the Guinness Pro 14 and the European Champions Cup, and are on track to repeat having qualified for the Pro 14 Semi Finals and the Champions Cup Final this season.
Since claiming the final spot at World Rugby’s flagship tournament in the November Repechage series, Canada has struggled to find form in a tumultuous Americas Rugby Championship. There they won just one of their five matches including back-to-back defeats to Uruguay and Brazil to start the competition.
The next international series will not be until late July, when the team takes part in the Pacific Nations Cup against the USA, Fiji, and Tonga. All will be road matches with the first at Glendale’s Infinity Park and the latter two played in Lautoka and Suva respectively.
Canada is expected to add at least one more match prior to departing for Japan in early September. Tickets for the Leinster match go on sale Wednesday, May 29.
