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Twenty teams will compete at RWC 2019, eleven of whom have played in every tournament since, and including, the inaugural edition in 1987. Canada is among this elite list. The North Americans are joined by Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.
Canada is also a prior RWC Quarter Finalist, something that neither Italy nor Japan have achieved too date. Without question Canada’s leading RWC memory is that of RWC 1991 when the North Americans made it out of their group to face New Zealand in Lille, France.
In remaining RWC tournaments Canada has also left its mark. This was very much the case in RWC 2011 when a 25-20 win over Tonga would unknowingly save tournament finalists France from elimination in the group stage.
Also notable has been a number of near misses. In RWC 2015 Canada fell to a 23-18 loss against Italy and in 2003 lost 19-14 against the same opponent. All told Canada is a proud rugby nation and not one going to Japan simply to make up the numbers.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
| RWC | FINAL PLACING | RESULTS |
| 1987 | Group Stage |
Won vs Tonga Lost vs Ireland, Wales |
| 1991 | Quarter Finalists |
Won vs Fiji, Romania Lost vs France, New Zealand |
| 1995 | Group Stage |
Won vs Romania Lost vs Australia, South Africa |
| 1999 | Group Stage |
Won vs Namibia Lost vs Fiji, France |
| 2003 | Group Stage |
Won vs Tonga Lost vs Italy, New Zealand, Wales |
| 2007 | Group Stage |
Draw vs Japan Lost vs Australia, Fiji, Wales |
| 2011 | Group Stage |
Won vs Tonga Draw vs Japan Lost vs France, New Zealand |
| 2015 | Group Stage | Lost vs France, Ireland, Italy, Romania |
Overall Record: Played 29, Won 7, Draw 2, Lost 20
RWC 2019 SCHEDULE
Canada’s match schedule is balanced in terms of the order of opposition but it is unbalanced in terms of required travel. The first two games will be played on the southern island of Kyushu with games three and four on the main island of Honshu.
An additional theme of the fixtures is that three of them are to be mid-week matches. Canada will open against Italy in Fukuoka on Thursday September 26 and then face New Zealand in Oita on the following Wednesday.
Game three is to also feature a six day gap but will involve considerably more travel. The central feature, though, is that it is to be against South Africa and it will fall with only four rest days before the final pool match against Namibia. Playing in the northeastern city of Kamaishi will mean an 1100km trip from Kobe.
Based on the above the most probable approach Canada will take is to prioritize the matches against Italy, and Namibia. If any of the four games are to see a reverse line-up it is thereby logically to be the match against South Africa.
| DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE |
| Thurs Sep 26 | Italy | Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka |
| Wed Oct 02 | New Zealand | Oita Stadium, Oita |
| Tues Oct 08 | South Africa | Misaki Stadium, Kobe |
| Sun Oct 13 | Namibia | Recovery Stadium, Kamaishi |
PREDICTED TRAVELING 31
Forwards: Eric Howard (NOLA Gold, USA), Benoît Pifféro (Blagnac, FR), Hubert Buydens (NOLA Gold, USA), Jake Ilnicki (Seattle Seawolves, USA), Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows), Djustice Sears-Duru (Seattle Seawolves, USA), Matt Tierney (Castres, FR), Conor Keys (Unattached), Josh Larsen (Austin Elite, USA), Evan Olmstead (Unattached), Mike Sheppard (Toronto Arrows), Tyler Ardron (Chiefs, NZ), Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold, USA), Luke Campbell (Toronto Arrows), Dustin Dobravsky (Castaway Wanderers), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park, UK), Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows)
BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Toronto Arrows), Phil Mack (Seattle Seawolves, USA), Jamie Mackenzie (Toronto Arrows), Shane O’Leary (Nottingham, UK), Patrick Parfrey (Toronto Arrows), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Ciaran Hearn (London Irish, UK), Ben LeSage (UBC Thunderbirds), Conor Trainor (Nevers, FR), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Jeff Hassler (Seattle Seawolves, USA), Taylor Paris (Castres, FR), Peter Nelson (Unattached), Brock Staller (Seattle Seawolves, USA)
PROJECTED MATCH-DAY LINEUP
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Evan Olmstead, 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Tyler Ardron (capt.), 9 Phil Mack, 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 Taylor Paris, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 DTH van der Merwe, 14 Jeff Hassler, 15 Peter Nelson
Replacements: 16 Benoît Pifféro, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Conor Trainor, 23 Brock Staller
Key Back: Jeff Hassler
Key Forward: Kyle Baillie
Talisman: Tyler Ardron
RWC 2019 PREVIEW
Canada has underperformed during the RWC 2015-2019 cycle. In 2016 Canada would defeat Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Russia but have a disappointing year based on losses against the Argentina XV, USA, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Romania, and Samoa.
In 2017 Canada would hit a low point, drawing against the USA and beating only Chile, and Spain. They would lose their 10 other matches including home defeats against Georgia, and Romania and away defeats against Brazil, and Uruguay.
Los Teros would beat Canada in 4 of the 5 fixtures during the cycle. The highlight would be in 2018 with Uruguay’s home-and-away wins sees them qualify got RWC 2019 and send Canada into repechage. Wins over Germany, Hong Kong, and Kenya would see Canada qualifying for Japan 2019 though concerns would come with a home loss against Russia.
When the draw for RWC 2019 was made the Americas qualifiers were yet to be finalized. Yet despite this being the case there were even people writing to Americas Rugby News suggesting Canada ought to aim to not be Americas 1, or 2 but the repechage qualifier. This was based on a favorable draw against Italy, and Africa 2.
It is never a good idea to approach a RWC tournament in such a way and Canada certainly did not do so. It must, however, be of note that Canada certainly is in a better pool than both the USA, and Uruguay. While the All Blacks and Springboks simply are out of reach Italy, and Namibia are great opponents for the Canadians.
Canada is projected to win a match at RWC 2019. That match will be against Namibia in Kamaishi. Their their prior pool matches are expected to be defeats to thereby see Canada completing a 1-3 record at RWC 2019.
Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa
Week 8 – France
Week 9 – South Africa
Week 10 – Georgia
Week 11 – Scotland
Week 12 – Tonga
Week 13 – New Zealand
Week 14 – Ireland
Week 15 – Australia
Week 16 – Russia
Week 17 – USA
Week 18 – Uruguay
Week 19 – Canada
Week 20 – Argentina
