Canada confirm Tonga tour for August and Men’s longlist

Canada have secured a tour this August. As part of the Rugby World Cup 2023 warm-up matches Canada will play two test matches in Tonga. The fixtures are to be Canada’s toughest assignment of 2023.

Canada will play against Tonga in Nuku’alofa on August 10 and August 15. The matches are to be the first in Tonga since 2017. They are to be the Ikale Tahi’s only home matches during the Rugby World Cup 2019-2023 cycle. The matches will be just the second time Canada has played in Tonga. The first was in 1999. Canada’s tour to Tonga will also involve a stop in Fiji. Canada will train with Fijian Drua academy in Nadi.

RWC 2023 will be the first Men’s Rugby World Cup without Canada. The North Americans were eliminated by Chile after losing a home-and-away series on aggregate. Chile went on to qualify for the World Cup by defeating the USA on aggregate. Chile will make their World Cup debut this year in France.

Tonga will compete in Pool B at Rugby World Cup 2023. The group also contains RWC 2019 champions South Africa in addition to Ireland, Romania and Scotland. Tonga recently named an impressive roster; one containing former All Blacks and Wallabies.

Kingsley Jones has named a 41-man longlist, with a final touring roster of 32 to be named next month. Included are 14 uncapped players, with six coming from amateur clubs. Another three capped players are currently amateurs. No European-based professionals are included while no Canada Sevens members were considered due to Olympic Qualifying preparations.

 

LH PROP
Foster DeWitt (New England Free Jacks) 1 cap
Cali Martinez (Old Glory DC) uncapped
Liam Murray (Dallas Jackals) 4 caps
Djustice Sears-Duru (San Diego Legion) 64 caps

HOOKER
Jacob Bossi (Spotswood United, NZ) uncapped
Andrew Quattrin (New England Free Jacks) 16 caps
Lindsey Stevens (Chicago Hounds) 4 caps
Tyler Wong (Toronto Arrows) uncapped

TH PROP
Cole Keith (New England Free Jacks) 25 caps
Tyler Rowland (Toronto Arrows) 9 caps
Kyle Steeves (Dallas Jackals) 1 cap
Conor Young (New England Free Jacks) 1 cap

SECOND ROW
Mason Flesch (Toronto Arrows) 2 caps
Izzak Kelly (Spotswood United, NZ) uncapped
Conor Keys (New England Free Jacks) 29 caps
Reegan O’Gorman (New England Free Jacks) 6 caps

BACK ROW
Callum Botchar (New Plymouth Old Boys, NZ) 1 cap
Matt Klimchuk (Pacific Pride) 1 cap
Travis Larsen (Toronto Arrows) uncapped
Zephyr Melnyk (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows) 47 caps
Owain Ruttan (Toronto Arrows) 1 cap
Siaki Vikilani (American Raptors) 9 caps
Piers von Dadelszen (Oxford University, UK) 2 caps

SCRUMHALF
Jason Higgins (San Diego Legion) 9 caps
Ross Braude (Toronto Arrows) 12 caps

FLYHALF
Gradyn Bowd (Old Glory DC) 10 caps
Peter Nelson (Toronto Arrows) 15 caps
Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats) 13 caps

MIDFIELD
Liam Bowman (Toronto Arrows) uncapped
Gabe Casey (Sumner, NZ) uncapped
Ben LeSage (New England Free Jacks) 27 caps
Takoda McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds) uncapped
Talon McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds) uncapped
Mitch Richardson (Toronto Arrows) uncapped

OUTSIDE BACKS
D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto Arrows) uncapped
Ciaran Breen (Toronto Arrows) uncapped
Spencer Jones (New England Free Jacks) 6 caps
Kainoa Lloyd (Houston SaberCats) 21 caps
Isaac Olson (New England Free Jacks) 1 cap
Jack Shaw (Rugby ATL) uncapped

 

FIXTURES – CANADA TOUR 2023
Thursday, August 10 vs (Nuku’alofa)
Tuesday, August 15 vs (Nuku’alofa)