Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Matt Tierney is back in the Canada squad for the imminent World Cup Qualifying series against the USA. The Castres prop, however, is the only European reinforcement from the group that toured to the UK in July, and one of only two France-based professionals named alongside Aurillac flyhalf Peter Nelson.
Also back in the frame after recovering from injury are NOLA second row Kyle Baillie and ATL flanker Matt Heaton, both of whom captain their respective Major League Rugby sides. Toronto Arrows centre Spencer Jones is also fit for duty and set to make his anticipated test debut.
Jones is one of five uncapped players in the 30-man selection. The others are Pacific Pride pair Foster DeWitt and Brock Webster, and Arrows duo Mason Flesch and Jason Higgins. Outside backs Kainoa Lloyd and Cooper Coats join DeWitt and Webster as inclusions who did not play in MLR this past season.
The list of absentees remains significant. World Cup captain Tyler Ardron is not included with Top 14 locks Evan Olmstead and Tyler Duguid also missing. Stade Français scrumhalf Will Percillier and Bourg-en-Bresse flanker Matt Beukeboom are also out. There are no additions from Canada’s Olympic squad.
Meanwhile Rugby Canada have announced that Saturday’s opening leg in St. John’s and the second leg in Glendale will be broadcast by subscription provider Premier Sports.
The winner of the series advances to face Uruguay for the Americas 1 spot with the loser facing elimination against Chile, both to be played in October. A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows), Djustice Sears-Duru (Seattle Seawolves), Foster DeWitt (Pacific Pride), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Andrew Quattrin (Toronto Arrows), Jake Ilnicki (Seattle Seawolves), Tyler Rowland (Toronto Arrows), Matt Tierney (Castres, FR), Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold), Conor Keys (Rugby ATL), Corey Thomas (LA Giltinis), Mason Flesch (Toronto Arrows), Matt Heaton (Rugby ATL), Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows), Michael Smith (San Diego Legion), Siaki Vikilani (Toronto Arrows)
BACKS
Ross Braude (Toronto Arrows), Jason Higgins (Toronto Arrows), Will Kelly (Toronto Arrows), Peter Nelson (Aurillac, FR), Brock Webster (Pacific Pride), Spencer Jones (Toronto Arrows), Lockie Kratz (NOLA Gold), Ben LeSage (Toronto Arrows), Quinn Ngawati (Rugby United New York), Cole Davis (Austin Gilgronis), Kainoa Lloyd (Pacific Pride), Cooper Coats (Canada Sevens), Patrick Parfrey (Toronto Arrows), Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats)
