Heaton returns to Canada squad for Romania tour

Veteran flanker Matt Heaton has been named in a 32-man Canadian squad for their upcoming trip to Romania. The Maple Leafs will face off against the Oaks in Bucharest on November 16. Los Cóndores of Chile are up first in the same city on November 9.

It was Chile who Heaton faced in his last test three years ago, the first leg of the fated Rugby World Cup qualifier series played in Vancouver. The LA captain did not suit up in the historic defeat at Valparaiso and hasn’t played for Canada since. Heaton is one of just seven players who have reached the 20-cap plateau in what is a very inexperienced squad.

Four players could make their test debut on tour. Loosehead prop Sam Miller, scrumhalf Jesse Kilgour, center Noah Flesch, and outside back Rhys James are yet to see test action. All four are based with Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride centralized development side. Five others are also attached to the team that competes in the BC Premier League.

Former Dallas Jackals quartet Dewald Kotze, Brock Gallagher, Mitch Richardson, and Nic Benn will tour after suffering the dissolution of their professional club. Kotze and Gallagher are expected to sign for the Seattle Seawolves, while Nic Benn’s rights were drafted by the Utah Warriors. Richardson recently suited up for the Atlantic Privateers along with Cole Keith and Cooper Coats.

Canada’s top overseas professionals are again absent – the likes of Tyler Ardron, Evan Olmstead, and Tyler Duguid – while a number of experienced Major League Rugby campaigners are also missing. Twin backline threats Talon and Takoda McMullin will instead compete in the Canadian Men’s University Championship with the UBC Thunderbirds.

 

PROP
Cole Keith (New England Free Jacks) 34 caps
Cali Martinez (Old Glory DC) 4 caps
Tyler Matchem (Pacific Pride) 1 cap
Sam Miller (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Conor Young (RFC Los Angeles) 10 caps

HOOKER
Dewald Kotze (unattached) 4 caps
Jesse Mackail (Pacific Pride) 1 cap
Andrew Quattrin (New England Free Jacks) 25 caps

SECOND ROW
Callum Botchar (NOLA Gold) 2 caps
Kaden Duguid (Vancouver Highlanders) 3 caps
Izzak Kelly (Cottesloe, AU) 6 caps
James Stockwood (Pacific Pride) 4 caps

BACK ROW
Mason Flesch (Chicago Hounds) 11 caps
Ethan Fryer (New England Free Jacks) 4 caps
Matt Heaton (RFC Los Angeles) 31 caps
Matthew Oworu (Pacific Pride) 7 caps
Sion Parry (Ebbw Vale, UK) 5 caps
Lucas Rumball (capt., Chicago Hounds) 56 caps

SCRUMHALF
Brock Gallagher (unattached) 4 caps
Jason Higgins (Chicago Hounds) 18 caps
Jesse Kilgour (Pacific Pride) uncapped

FLYHALF/FULLBACK
Mark Balaski (Pacific Pride) 3 caps
Cooper Coats (Atlantic Privateers) 15 caps
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) 24 caps

MIDFIELD
Noah Flesch (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Ben LeSage (New England Free Jacks) 35 caps
Mitch Richardson (Atlantic Privateers) 5 caps
Josh Thiel (James Bay) 3 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Nic Benn (unattached) 4 caps
Andrew Coe (RFC Los Angeles) 23 caps
Rhys James (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Josiah Morra (James Bay) 4 caps