Canada finalizes roster for European tour

Kingsley Jones has named his final touring squad of 32 players for Canada’s two November tests. The team will play against the Netherlands for the first time this coming Saturday, followed by Namibia next week. Both will take place at NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam.

No additions to the original squad of 36 have been named. All four who miss out are backs – flyhalf Peter Nelson, center Dawson Fatoric, winger D’Shawn Bowen, and versatile back Alex Russell. Nelson will instead return to his French club Aurillac to continue rehabilitation on an ankle injury suffered during training in late September. He has yet to make a Pro D2 appearance this season.

Shane O’Leary is now in line to make a test return after a three-year absence, having last appeared at the 2019 World Cup. Curiously there are only two specialist midfielders named, though Gradyn Bowd or Andrew Coe could offer cover if required. Foster DeWitt will be the third hooker option.

Six players could make their test debuts. The uncapped inclusions are tighthead props Kyle Steeves and Conor Young, back row trio Callum Botchar, Owain Ruttan, and Matt Klimchuk, and winger Josiah Morra. All were part of the Canada ‘A’ tour to Brazil last month.

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Foster DeWitt (New England Free Jacks) 1 cap
Liam Murray (Dallas Jackals) 3 caps
Djustice Sears-Duru (LA Giltinis) 62 caps

HOOKER
Andrew Quattrin (New England Free Jacks) 14 caps
Lindsey Stevens (LA Giltinis) 2 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Tyler Rowland (Toronto Arrows) 7 caps
Kyle Steeves (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Conor Young (New England Free Jacks) uncapped

SECOND ROW
Kyle Baillie (Toronto Arrows) 34 caps
Conor Keys (New England Free Jacks) 28 caps
Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks) 19 caps
Corey Thomas (LA Giltinis) 9 caps

BACK ROW
Callum Botchar (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Luke Campbell (Old Glory DC) 15 caps
Matt Klimchuk (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Lucas Rumball (capt., Toronto Arrows) 45 caps
Owain Ruttan (Toronto Arrows) uncapped
Siaki Vikilani (Toronto Arrows) 7 caps
Piers von Dadelszen (Oxford University, UK) 1 cap

SCRUMHALF
Ross Braude (Toronto Arrows) 10 caps
Jason Higgins (San Diego Legion) 7 caps

FLYHALF
Gradyn Bowd (Old Glory DC) 10 caps
Shane O’Leary (Toronto Arrows) 14 caps
Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats) 11 caps

MIDFIELD
Ben LeSage (LA Giltinis) 26 caps
Josh Thiel (Canada Sevens) 1 cap

OUTSIDE BACKS
Cooper Coats (Canada Sevens) 7 caps
Andrew Coe (Rugby New York) 14 caps
Kainoa Lloyd (San Diego Legion) 21 caps
Josiah Morra (Canada Sevens) uncapped
David Richard (Canada Sevens) 1 cap
Brock Webster (Canada Sevens) 7 caps