MLR and overseas talent in Canada u20 squad

Canada u20 coach Adam Roberts has named a 28-strong roster for the upcoming u20 series in Guelph. Roberts will be aided by former Canadian international Clay Panga and Toronto Arrows assistant Cory Hector in preparing the team for their first action in over two years.

Three Major League Rugby players are included, with scrumhalf Sam Reimer and outside back Kobe Faust representing the Arrows while flanker Ethan Fryer plays for the New England Free Jacks. Arizona Wildcats fullback Ted Champion is the lone US collegiate player.

There are five players who are currently based overseas. Two are flyhalves – Cardiff Met’s Jamin Hodgkins and Durham University’s James Biss. Hodgkins has previously represented Bermuda u19 while Biss was part of the Saracens academy program.

The other three are in French professional academies. Loosehead prop Mehdi Porchet is at Mont-de-Marsan, second row or No8 Logan Weidner will move from Brive to Narbonne, and Liam Bowman is returning for a second season with Montauban. Notably Weidner recently toured with the USA u20s, while Fryer is also dual-qualified and was a High School All-American.

Second row Alastair Bruce hails from South Africa where he attended Bishops College in Cape Town. New Zealand-born outside back Jack East was in the Highlanders development program. Both have recently joined the Pacific Pride in Victoria.

The u20 series kicks off on Saturday, August 13 at Guelph University and concludes on Tuesday, August 23. Canada will play matches against Zimbabwe, Chile, and Uruguay.

PROP
Ethan Jurgeneit (Trinity Western)
Tyler Matchem (Pacific Pride)
Joe McNulty (Capilano)
Mehdi Porchet (Mont-de-Marsan, FR)
Peyton Teneycke (UBC Thunderbirds)

HOOKER
Michael Di Lella (Guelph Gryphons)
David Scollon (Guelph Gryphons)

LOCK
Alastair Bruce (Pacific Pride)
Logan Weidner (Narbonne, FR)
Caden Wilson (UBC Thunderbirds)

BACK ROW
Taine Clague (UVic Vikes)
Ethan Fryer (New England Free Jacks)
Sol Jacques (UBC Thunderbirds)
Matt Klimchuk (Pacific Pride)
Relmu Wilson-Valdes (UBC Thunderbirds)

SCRUMHALF
Adam Doyle (Queen’s Gaels)
Sam Reimer (Toronto Arrows)

FLYHALF
James Biss (Durham University, UK)
Jamin Hodgkins (Cardiff Met, UK)

MIDFIELD
Liam Bowman (Montauban, FR)
Jacob Ince (Guelph Gryphons)
Takoda McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds)
Talon McMullin (Bayside)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Ted Champion (Arizona Wildcats)
Jack East (Pacific Pride)
Kobe Faust (Toronto Arrows)
Alastair Marshall (UBC Thunderbirds)
Lukas Scheck (Pacific Pride)