Canada Men’s squad named for Belgium and Spain tests

Rugby Canada have named a 30-man squad for the upcoming Senior Men’s July test series. Games against Belgium and Spain will take place on July 2 in Halifax and July 10 in Ottawa respectively.

As with the USA’s roster, there are 22 players that featured in Major League Rugby included. Unlike the Eagles, however, there is just one overseas player named by Kingsley Jones – Aurillac flyhalf Peter Nelson. Two are selected from the Canada Sevens squad, and five from the BC Premier League – three of those from the Pacific Pride national development program.

Uncapped players named include two hookers – LA’s Lindsey Stevens and Jack McRogers of the Arrows – and the three Pride selections – blindside flanker Callum Botchar, No8 Matthew Oworu, and midfielder Dawson Fatoric. Flyhalf Gradyn Bowd is recalled after a five-year absence from the national team.

Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage are both named as captains. World Cup captain Tyler Ardron, currently recovering from knee surgery, is among a long list of absentees listed as injured or unavailable.

PROP
Jake Ilnicki (Old Glory DC)
Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows)
Liam Murray (Dallas Jackals)
Tyler Rowland (Toronto Arrows)
Djustice Sears-Duru (LA Giltinis)

HOOKER
Jack McRogers (Toronto Arrows)
Andrew Quattrin (Toronto Arrows)
Lindsey Stevens (LA Giltinis)

SECOND ROW
Donald Carson (UBC Thunderbirds)
Conor Keys (Rugby ATL)
Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks)

BACK ROW
Callum Botchar (Pacific Pride)
Luke Campbell (Old Glory DC)
Matthew Oworu (Pacific Pride)
Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows)
Michael Smith (San Diego Legion)
Corey Thomas (LA Giltinis)

SCRUMHALF
Ross Braude (Toronto Arrows)
Jason Higgins (San Diego Legion)

FLYHALF
Gradyn Bowd (Castaway Wanderers)
Peter Nelson (Aurillac, FR)

MIDFIELD
Dawson Fatoric (Pacific Pride)
Doug Fraser (Old Glory DC)
Ben LeSage (LA Giltinis)
Quinn Ngawati (Rugby New York)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Cooper Coats (Canada Sevens)
Kainoa Lloyd (San Diego Legion)
Isaac Olson (New England Free Jacks)
Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats)
Brock Webster (Canada Sevens)