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The teams are ready for the first of two World Rugby u20 Qualifier matches between Canada and the USA, with the winner to represent North America at the World Rugby u20 Trophy later this year. Both matches will be played at Ellerslie Park in Edmonton, the second on Saturday as a curtain-raiser for the Canada-Romania test match. The return to a two-game system, though not home-and-away, will be welcome news particularly for Canada who dropped the one-off match to the Junior All-Americans on a last-second penalty goal in Round Rock last year.
Canada’s lineup is captained by Clermont Auvergne academy center George Barton, who won two senior test caps as a replacement during the Americas Rugby Championship earlier this year. James Bay prop Cole Keith and Pau academy lock Matt Beukeboom also made their international debuts in that tournament, with Beukebooom earning one start as a blindside flanker against Brazil. Barton and Beukeboom were part of the 2016 u20 squad, as was front row reserve Connor Sampson.
Members of Rugby Canada’s Centralized Athlete Program included are Keith, No 8 Jake Thiel, flyhalf Will Kelly, and fullback Aidan McMullan. Castaway Wanderers winger Anton Ngongo was part of the Canada ‘A’ side that traveled to the Americas Pacific Challenge in October 2016, and two players fly in from Super Rugby development teams in Australia. Blindside flanker Lachlan Currie is part of the Western Force u20 side and reserve winger Cole Davis from the Brumbies.
The Junior All-Americans have called up five players who were part of last year’s u20 Trophy party. Malon Al-Jiboori will captain the side having represented both the USA Select XV and Eagles 7s during the past few months, while twice-capped Lorenzo Thomas will start at outside center. Chance Wenglewski, Deven Marshall, and Ruben de Haas are also returning players. Wenglewski was part of the USA Select XV at the Americas Pacific Challenge.
Two overseas-based player are included. Selected at flyhalf is Sam Walsh, born in Boston but based at Scots College, one of the most prestigious schools rugby programs in New Zealand. Utility back Peter Howard arrives from Naas in Ireland and qualifies through his parents. Also of interest is Martin Keuchkerian of Mystic River. A Uruguayan who has previously captained the MVCC age-grade sides who qualifies on residency. Previously a center or flanker, he is now converting to hooker.
This evening’s match kicks off at 7pm local time, 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. A live stream will be available on the Rugby Canada Facebook page.
CANADA u20
1 Liam Murray, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Liam Doll, 5 Matt Beukeboom, 6 Lachlan Currie, 7 James O’Neill, 8 Jake Thiel, 9 Fraser Hurst, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Elias Ergas, 12 Josh Thiel, 13 George Barton (capt.), 14 Anton Ngongo, 15 Aidan McMullan
Replacements: 16 Steven Ng, 17 Connor Sampson, 18 Nick Frost, 19 Jamie McNaughton, 20 Jack McRogers, 21 William McDougall-Percillier, 22 Brennig Prevost, 23 Cole Davis
USA JUNIOR ALL-AMERICANS
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Jack Iscaro, 3 Jake Jorstad, 4 Daemon Torres, 5 Deven Marshall, 6 Malon Al-Jiboori (capt.), 7 Nafi Ma’afu, 8 Brian Nault, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Sam Walsh, 11 Harley Wheeler, 12 Aaron Matthews, 13 Lorenzo Thomas, 14 Jaret Williamson, 15 Cristian Rodríguez
Replacements: 16 Martin Keuchkerian, 17 Jordan Crofts, 18 Payton Telea, 19 Tommy Clark, 20 Justin Johnson, 21 Eamonn Matthews, 22 Christian Dyer, 23 Peter Howard
