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Kingsley Jones has named his training squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup and Rugby World Cup, and there are a couple surprises. It’s an expanded group of 43, three more than expected, with the most notable addition that of Ulster veteran Peter Nelson. The former Ireland u20 and Emerging Ireland fullback qualifies on ancestry.
Tyler Ardron is set to lead Canada to a second World Cup having been named captain. Also in the leadership group are vice-captains Lucas Rumball and Phil Mack. Ardron and Mack are two of 15 returning players from the 2015 World Cup, with six present from the team that went to New Zealand in 2011.
As expected the bulk of the squad comes from Major League Rugby, 26 all told, with the Toronto Arrows contributing half. Six come from the now two-time champion Seattle Seawolves. There is room for only four amateurs from Canadian club rugby, two each from BC and Alberta.
Notable absentees include Cornish Pirates duo Brett Beukeboom and Matt Evans, both of whom featured in Canada’s World Cup Qualifiers in November. Theo Sauder is ruled out of the PNC with a shoulder injury but may yet be fit to challenge for a spot in the World Cup squad.
Perhaps most unlucky is Seawolves winger Brock Staller, who is left in the cold despite winning the MLR scoring title by a considerable distance. There is better news for Canada’s other title-winner as Nottingham flyhalf Shane O’Leary is named after being left out of the match day squad during the Repechage tournament.
Uncapped players number just three – Arrows hooker Andrew Quattrin, Austin back row Travis Larsen, and Ulster’s Nelson. Others selected for the first time under Jones are Arrows prop Rob Brouwer and Seattle midfielder George Barton.
There is a possibility for others to join the fray ahead of the PNC, which kicks off on July 27. The door has been left open for those involved with the World Rugby u20 Trophy, notably scrumhalf Will Percillier, and those in the Sevens program – among them Andrew Coe, Nathan Hirayama, and Connor Braid.
Canada opens their PNC against the USA before heading to the South Pacific to play Fiji and Tonga.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Noah Barker (Glendale Raptors), Rob Brouwer (Toronto Arrows), Hubert Buydens (NOLA Gold), Djustice Sears-Duru (Seattle Seawolves), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Benoît Pifféro (Blagnac, FR), Andrew Quattrin (Toronto Arrows), Jake Ilnicki (Seattle Seawolves), Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows), Matt Tierney (Pau, FR), Paul Ciulini (Toronto Arrows), Conor Keys (Rotherham Titans, UK), Josh Larsen (Austin Elite), Evan Olmstead (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Mike Sheppard (Toronto Arrows), Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold), Justin Blanchet (Bedford Blues, UK), Dustin Dobravsky (Castaway Wanderers), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK), Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows), Nakai Penny (Seattle Seawolves), Tyler Ardron (capt., Chiefs, NZ), Luke Campbell (Toronto Arrows), Travis Larsen (Austin Elite)
BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Toronto Arrows), Phil Mack (Seattle Seawolves), Jamie Mackenzie (Toronto Arrows), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets), Shane O’Leary (Nottingham, UK), Patrick Parfrey (Toronto Arrows), George Barton (Seattle Seawolves), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Guiseppe du Toit (Toronto Arrows), Doug Fraser (Austin Elite), Ciaran Hearn (London Irish, UK), Ben LeSage (UBC Thunderbirds), Conor Trainor (Nevers, FR), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Jeff Hassler (Seattle Seawolves), Kainoa Lloyd (Toronto Arrows), Dan Moor (Toronto Arrows), Taylor Paris (Castres, FR), Peter Nelson (Ulster, IR)
