Teams set for Highlanders, Canada Selects, and Barbados

Friday evening will see Canadian fans treated to a double-header at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club. It’s an historic occasion for the Vancouver Highlanders, a shiny new semi-pro outfit who take their maiden steps opposite the Canada Selects. The second match will feature their reserves against Barbados.

On paper the lineups feature many of the best Canadian domestic talent outside those currently playing professionally either in Major League Rugby or abroad. In fact 10 players taking part have already been named on the senior roster to prepare for the upcoming tests against Scotland and Romania.

Peter Nelson’s selection at flyhalf for the selects suggests he will be wearing No10 against the Scots, with u20 graduate Jamin Hodgkins named at fullback. Winger Kainoa Lloyd and backs rows Sion Parry and Siaki Vikilani have test experience, while there could be debuts in July for hooker Jesse Mackail, lock James Stockwood, and winger Rhys James.

For the Highlanders, Matt Klimchuk and the McMullin twins – Talon and Takoda – are in the senior Canadian squad. Halfback pair Reid Watkins and Josh Thiel and reserve flanker Ollie Nott have won test caps for Canada, with Jake Thiel and D’Shawn Bowen both Canada 7s representatives. Melani Nanai boasts Super Rugby experience with ex-Georgia flanker Saba Shubitidze named on the bench.

The reserves squad features two players who are listed as senior Highlanders squad members – second row Thomas Davidson and flyhalf James Biss. Both have played for Canada at u20 level. Ireland age-grade hooker Conall Henchy is named on the flank, and Kenyan representative Brian Ndirangu, a lock or loose forward, is among the replacements.

Coaching the touring Barbadians is Joe Whipple, who has enlisted former James Bay prop Cole Racine to help with the forwards. Highlanders Reserves prop Simeon John will start for his country on this occasion, with flanker Enrique Oxley taking the on-field leadership role.

Kickoff for the first match between the Highlanders and Selects is slated for 4:30pm local time (7:30pm Eastern), with the second match at 7pm local time (10pm Eastern). Both will be streamed live on the Highlanders YouTube Page. Live attendance is free but spots are limited so local fans are encouraged to register for tickets on the Highlanders website.

 

VANCOUVER HIGHLANDERS vs CANADA SELECTS
Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, 16:30 local (19:30 Eastern)

VANCOUVER HIGHLANDERS
1 Griffin Phillipson, 2 Jacob Bossi, 3 Payton Teneycke, 4 Karl Hunger, 5 Caden Wilson, 6 Jake Thiel, 7 Matt Klimchuk, 8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes, 9 Reid Watkins, 10 Josh Thiel (capt.), 11 Nico Leonard, 12 Talon McMullin, 13 Melani Nanai, 14 D’Shawn Bowen, 15 Takoda McMullin

Replacements: 16 Sam Mace, 17 Conor O’Flaherty, 18 Cole Kelly, 19 Saba Shubitidze, 20 Joe Locke, 21 Ollie Nott, 22 Finlay Kennedy, 23 Nick Blain, 24 Lenny Bonduau, 25 Alastair Marshall

CANADA SELECTS
1 Sam Miller, 2 Jesse Mackail, 3 Tyler Matchem, 4 James Stockwood, 5 Kaden Duguid, 6 Zephyr Melnyk, 7 Sion Parry, 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Crosby Stewart, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Rhys James, 12 Mark Balaski, 13 Kyle Tremblay, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Jamin Hodgkins

Replacements: 16 Jeffrey Young (HO), 17 Moe Steves (LH), 18 Bryce Worden (TH), 19 Jordy Auger (HO), 20 Braden Bruce (FL), 21 Cody Nhanala (FL), 22 Olly Wiseman (N8), 23 Jesse Kilgour (SH), 24 Mostyn Findlay (CE), 25 Thomas Burton (CE), 26 Morgan DiNardo (WI), 27 Spencer Cotie (WI), James Thiel (FB), 29 Matthew Bennett (FH)

 

HIGHLANDERS RESERVES vs BARBADOS
Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)

HIGHLANDERS RESERVES
1 Ed Wallin, 2 Josh Olver, 3 Theo Espagnol, 4 Thomas Davidson, 5 Asfand Saeed, 6 Callum Brown, 7 Conall Henchy, 8 Liam Kinghorn, 9 Keegan Neary, 10 James Biss, 11 Nathan Holm, 12 Sion Griffiths, 13 Hayden Mulgrew, 14 Demetri Patterson, 15 Mike Moloney

Replacements: 16 Brian Ndirangu, 17 Charlie Huntingford, 18 Tom Richardson, 19 Jacob Bourne, 20 George Wallin, 21 Keith Graham, 22 Niko Adrianos

BARBADOS
1 Antonio Gibbons, 2 John-Shane Howard, 3 Simeon John, 4 Jeremy Nelson, 5 Sean Ward, 6 Jamie Lashley, 7 Enrique Oxley (capt.), 8 Dan Martyn, 9 Lucas Brathwaite, 10 Liam Caddy, 11 Simon John, 12 Adam Hakimian, 13 Jake Caddy, 14 Jamie Anderson, 15 Callum Dunne

Replacements: Rajiv Grant, Rommel Moore, Simroy John, Jaden Howell, Dandre Phillips, Josh Rudling, Christian Preece