Canada names World Cup long-list

Canada coach Kingsley Jones has selected an expanded 42-man long list for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The list includes all 31 players who appeared in the Pacific Nations Cup, eight from the original extended training squad, plus three additions not among the 43 named in June.

Taylor Paris has recovered from a head knock suffered in training ahead of the PNC. He is joined by prop Noah Barker, second row Josh Larsen, loose forwards Dustin Dobravsky, Nakai Penny, and Travis Larsen, and midfielders Guiseppe du Toit and Doug Fraser from the previous group.

Theo Sauder is deemed fit for duty after missing the initial selection with a shoulder injury. New additions are former Dragons Academy flyhalf Will Kelly and versatile outside back Andrew Coe, the only member of the Canada Sevens core group included.

Four players have been left out. Three are Toronto Arrows standouts – lock Paul Ciulini, scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson, and wing Dan Moor. Seattle Seawolves center George Barton also misses the cut. Ferguson has been training with the group as extra scrumhalf cover.

The team will play three more matches before departing for Japan. First up is Irish provincial side Leinster, who arrive in Hamilton on Saturday. A match against a BC All-Star XV in Langford is scheduled for next Friday, with a final test against the USA Eagles in Vancouver on September 7.

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), 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
Phil Mack (Seattle Seawolves), Jamie Mackenzie (Toronto Arrows), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets), Will Kelly (Dragons, UK), Peter Nelson (Ulster, UK), Shane O’Leary (Nottingham, UK), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Guiseppe du Toit (Toronto Arrows), Doug Fraser (Austin Elite), Ciaran Hearn (London Irish, UK), Ben LeSage (Calgary Canucks), Conor Trainor (Nevers, FR), Andrew Coe (Canada Sevens), Jeff Hassler (Seattle Seawolves), Kainoa Lloyd (Toronto Arrows), Taylor Paris (Castres, FR), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Patrick Parfrey (Toronto Arrows), Theo Sauder (Toronto Arrows)