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A notable feature of Rugby World Cup 2023 was Canada’s absence. Never before had Canada missed out on qualifying for a Men’s Rugby World Cup. The USA fell at the final hurdle against Portugal which meant North America had no team at the event for the first time.
Spain was another notable team not involved. The three, and Brazil, took part in an invitational competition after the World Cup in Spain. That was the start of the new World Cup cycle for all involved. July 2024 will mark the first home matches for Canada.
The new Canadian era is a continuation; Kingsley Jones remains Head Coach. It comes with the demise of the Toronto Arrows. Set against the delicate situation is upcoming international competition. For Canada’s test team will be the positive challenge of taking-on two World Cup 2023 teams in July.
Ottawa will play host to two test matches. The July Internationals will see Scotland and Romania playing in the Canadian capital on July 06 and 12 respectively. Both matches will be played at TD Place.
Canada and Scotland will compete for the Douglas Horn Cup. The teams last faced-off in 2018 in Edmonton. The match was followed by Scotland’s historic defeat against the USA in Houston, Texas.
Game two for Canada will be on July 12 against Romania. It is an overdue meeting; the teams last played a test match against each other in 2017. A 14-man Romania won that fixture 25-9 in Edmonton. Romania won 21-16 the previous year in Bucharest.
Ottawa’s TD Place will thus be the place to be for Canadian rugby fans in July. The venue also hosts international rugby in 2022 with Canada facing Spain.
Additional fixtures for Scotland and Romania are to be added. As reported in early January, there are plans for Scotland to play additional matches in the Americas against the USA, Chile and Uruguay. Chile, Uruguay and the USA will all play multiple home matches while Brazil is also securing home test matches.
In addition to facing Scotland and Romania, Canada will also play in the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC). This will include a home match against Japan at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on August 25 and an away match against the USA in Los Angeles on August 31. Subsequent PNC matches will be in Tokyo and Osaka.
BC Place has hosted four prior test matches; however, the August match will be the first at the venue since 2019. The Canadians will be looking for their first win at the Vancouver stadium.
The USA defeated Canada 20-15 at the venue in 2019. Uruguay won a Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifier 38-29 at BC Place in 2018. Canada lost 51-9 to the Maori All Blacks in 2017 and 26-22 against Japan in 2016.
