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Canada will host the USA in Alberta this coming June to determine the North American entry into the 2017 World Rugby u20 Trophy. The qualification process gets a welcome return to two matches after the winner-take-all match in Texas last February saw the Junior All-Americans come away with a last-minute victory. With the second-tier World Rugby u20 tournament not set to kick off in Montevideo until August 29, the teams have been given considerably more time to prepare for this year’s campaign.
The two matches have now been booked for June 13 and 17, the first at St. Albert RFC and the second at Ellerslie Park in Edmonton. Only one of the two teams will qualify for the u20 Trophy, with the winner decided on aggregates core of the two matches.
Likely participants for Canada include three members of the Americas Rugby Championship squad in Cole Keith, Matt Beukeboom, and George Barton. The trio all made their test debuts as replacements in the win over Chile on Saturday. Centralized training squad members Jake Thiel, Will Kelly, and Aidan McMullan are also expected to take part, while two other members of last year’s squad remain eligible in BC hooker Connor Sampson and Ontario flyhalf Mitch Richardson.
The Junior All-Americans have already named a training squad of 50 players with others still to join ahead of the series. Two players who debuted in last year’s ARC should be part of the team in Lorenzo Thomas and Deion Mikesell, while USA Select XV selections Chance Wenglewski, Siaosi Mahoni, and Malon Al-Jiboori are also eligible. Other possible returnees include Steven Braham, Deven Marshall, Veuki Taumoefolau, Bronson Teles, and Ruben de Haas.
