Canada names Senior Men’s squad for European tour

Canada Senior Men’s Head Coach Kingsley Jones has named a squad of 28 players for their two-match tour to Europe next month. Currently ranked 23rd in the world, the team will face No19 Portugal in Lisbon on November 6 and No28 Belgium in Brussels on November 13.

Jones remains in charge despite calls for changes following the team’s failure to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023. It will be the first such tournament of any kind without Canada’s participation.

Though the matches are within World Rugby’s designated test window, only one European-based professional is named in the squad. Aurillac flyhalf Peter Nelson is retained while Castres pair Matt Tierney and Tyler Ardron, who both appeared in Canada’s most recent test, are absent.

Among others listed as injured or unavailable are Montpellier lock Tyler Duguid and Stade Français scrumhalf Will Percillier. Players who were part of the World Cup Qualifiers squad who will miss the tour are flanker Matt Heaton, wing Cole Davis, and fullbacks Cooper Coats and Patrick Parfrey.

New England Free Jacks captain Josh Larsen is recalled to the group and there are four uncapped players included. Free Jacks signing Foster DeWitt covers hooker and loosehead prop and is joined by loose forward Matt Oworu and wingers Isaac Olson and David Richard. All four have suited up for the Pacific Pride in the Coastal Cup. Oworu has previously represented Zimbabwe at age-grade level.

FORWARDS
Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows), Djustice Sears-Duru (Seattle Seawolves), Foster DeWitt (New England Free Jacks), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Andrew Quattrin (Toronto Arrows), Jake Ilnicki (Seattle Seawolves), Tyler Rowland (Toronto Arrows), Kyle Baillie (Toronto Arrows), Conor Keys (Rugby ATL), Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks), Corey Thomas (LA Giltinis), Mason Flesch (Toronto Arrows), Matt Oworu (Pacific Pride), Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows), Michael Smith (San Diego Legion), Siaki Vikilani (Toronto Arrows)

BACKS
Ross Braude (Toronto Arrows), Jason Higgins (Toronto Arrows), Peter Nelson (Aurillac, FR), Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats), Spencer Jones (Toronto Arrows), Lockie Kratz (NOLA Gold), Ben LeSage (Toronto Arrows), Quinn Ngawati (Rugby United New York), Kainoa Lloyd (Crimson Tide), Isaac Olson (Pacific Pride), David Richard (Pacific Pride), Brock Webster (Pacific Pride)