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Rugby Canada has confirmed a 36-man roster for the Pacific Pride this season. The national development program is centralized in Langford, BC, and competes in the BC Premier League. Former Canadian internationals Phil Mack and Hubert Buydens are the coaches.
Six players who were part of the national u20 side that competed at Guelph University last month are included, among them Toronto Arrows scrumhalf Sam Reimer. Eight others have previously represented Canada u20 at international level.
Second row Alistair Bruce and flyhalf Max Stewart both come from Cape Town, South Africa, while outside back Jack East is from Wanaka, New Zealand. Versatile back Mark Balaski hails from Castlebar, Ireland, with lock Conor Turner originally from Wolverhampton, England.
Outside back Ben Russell is the younger brother of Canada Sevens rep Alex Russell and is from Chichester, England. Noah Flesch, who has switched from the back row to centre, is the younger brother of Arrows flanker and senior Canada international Mason Flesch.
The team opened their season with a resounding 56-28 win over UBC on Saturday. They have 17 games currently scheduled between now and April 1.
PROP
Liam Bolton (Leduc Crude)
Aaron Clark (Calgary Canucks)
Dan Cooper (Oshawa Vikings)
*Willem den Ouden (Calgary Hornets)
*Tyler Matchem (Pictou County)
Kyle Steeves (Manitoba Wombats)
HOOKER
*Austin Creighton (Strathcona Druids)
Sione Fine (Williams Lake)
*Tyler Wong (UVic Vikes)
SECOND ROW
*Alistair Bruce (Bishops College, SA)
*Reid Davis (Bayside Sharks)
Jaiden John (Mississauga Blues)
Conor Turner (Calgary Hornets)
BACK ROW
Callum Botchar (UBC Thunderbirds)
Elias Hancock (Bytown Blues)
*Matt Klimchuk (Regina Rogues)
*Zephyr Melnyk (Nanaimo Hornets)
Sam Miller (Valley)
*Cody Nhanala (Ottawa Ospreys)
SCRUMHALF
Jesse Kilgour (Barrie)
Zech Pilgrim (Castaway Wanderers)
*Sam Reimer (Oshawa Vikings)
FLYHALF
Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IR)
Max Stewart (Bishops College, SA)
Justin Taylor (Oshawa Vikings)
MIDFIELD
*Ciaran Breen (Cowichan)
Taylor de Souza (Nanaimo Hornets)
Noah Flesch (Cobourgh Saxons)
*Sion Griffiths (Cowichan)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Alan Berros (Beaconsfield)
*Jack East (University of Otago, NZ)
AJ Kosempel (Laurier Golden Hawks)
Oliver MacKenzie (James Bay)
Ben Russell (McGill Redbirds)
*Lucas Scheck (Castaway Wanderers)
Jean-Christophe Vinette (TMR)
*represented Canada u20
