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Rugby Canada has named it’s 2020-2021 class of their residential Men’s Development Academy. More commonly known as the Pacific Pride, there are 33 players on the list. Of those 24 appeared for the team in 2019-2020 when the team won 10 of 11 matches, their sole defeat against UBC in February.
Seven of the nine newcomers are in the forwards. Chris Atkinson, Emerson Prior, Foster Dewitt, and Tyler Wong add to the front row stocks. Liam Casey comes in at lock, with a pair of national u20 standouts in James O’Neill and Michael Smith joining the loose forwards.
The two new backs are both notable. Flyhalf James Biss arrives from Old Elthamians in England having also been part of the Saracens academy program. Midfielder Liam Bowman comes highly rated from the Oakville Crusaders. Both were part of Canada’s u20 training group.
Also new to the program this year is Assistant Coach Phil Mack, who joins after leading the Seattle Seawolves to back-to-back Major League Rugby titles. Fellow international Jamie Cudmore continues as Head Coach. It’s not clear yet what the playing schedule will look like due to the pandemic.
The team may need new recruits in the New Year. Four players are signed to MLR teams for the 2021 season, with at least two more set to be announced shortly. Four others from last year’s squad – Nik Hildebrand, Will Kelly, Guiseppe du Toit, and Quinn Ngawati – are also contracted.
PROP
*Chris Atkinson (Surrey Beavers / Burnaby Lake)
Nik Hildebrand (Burnaby Lake / Houston SaberCats)
Bryce McKinnon (Regina Rogues)
Liam Murray (James Bay)
*Emerson Prior (Peterborough Pagans)
Tyler Rowland (Toronto Nomads / Toronto Arrows)
HOOKER
*Foster Dewitt (Westshore)
Dewald Kotze (Strathcona Druids / UBCOB Ravens)
*Tyler Wong (UVic Vikes)
SECOND ROW
*Liam Casey (Kuala Lumpur Saracens, MY)
Thomas Davidson (Toronto Scottish)
Reid Davis (Bayside Sharks)
Kaden Duguid (Nor’Westers)
BACK ROW
Mason Flesch (Cobourg Saxons / James Bay)
Austin James (Burnaby Lake)
Cody Nhanala (Ottawa Ospreys)
*James O’Neill (Calgary Canucks / UVic Vikes)
*Michael Smith (UBC Thunderbirds)
Siaki Vikilani (Burnaby Lake / Toronto Arrows)
Taitusi Vikilani (Burnaby Lake)
SCRUMHALF
Brock Gallagher (Strathcona Druids / Westshore)
Crosby Stewart (UVic Vikes)
FLYHALF
*James Biss (Old Elthamians, UK / Saracens Academy, UK)
Brock Webster (Oshawa Vikings)
CENTRE
*Liam Bowman (Oakville Crusaders)
Sion Griffiths (Castaway Wanderers)
Isaac Olson (Castaway Wanderers)
Josh Thiel (Abbotsford / San Diego Legion)
WING
D’Shawn Bowen (Kingston Panthers / Westshore)
Anton Ngongo (Castaway Wanderers)
Alex Russell (McGill Redmen)
FULLBACK
Thomas Isherwood (Foothills Lions)
Brennig Prevost (Castaway Wanderers)
*denotes new player in 2020-2021
