Canada names Men’s u20 side for Portugal tour

Canada has named 28 players in their Men’s Under-20 squad that will travel to Portugal next month. The team will play two matches against their hosts, to be played on February 17 and 20 in Lisbon. Portugal were finalists at the 2019 Junior World Trophy in Brazil, missing out to Japan by only a single point.

There are several new names were were not on the original training list named in November. Among them are three European-based forwards. Props Haeden Moher and Mehdi Porchet arrive from Ireland and France respectively, with Montpellier academy loose forward Albert Dwan joining the team having previously represented Irish Exiles.

Other European academy inclusions are Narbonne lock Tyler Duguid, Saracens flyhalf James Biss, and Biarritz center Ciaran Breen. New names in the backs include Bishop’s midfielder Jack Shaw and Castaway Wanderers outside back Isaac Olson.

Missing are a pair of locks with Oxford University’s Piers von Dadelszen unavailable and Arrows academy standout Cam Hurst injured. Returning No8 Nick Carson will miss the tour, as will winger David Richard who is currently playing on the World Sevens Series.

The team will embark on a second tour in late April to the UK as part of their preparations for the inaugural u20 Americas Rugby Championship in June. Should they defeat the USA at that tournament, they will qualify for the World Rugby u20 Trophy to be held in September at Villajoyosa, Spain.

FORWARDS
Alex Chitan (UBC Thunderbirds), Willem den Ouden (Calgary Hornets), Haeden Moher (Greystones, IR), Mehdi Porchet (Oyonnax, FR), Josh Tweed (UBC Thunderbirds), Jared Augustin (Queen’s Gaels), Mike McCarthy (Pacific Pride), Liam Casey (Queen’s Gaels), Tyler Duguid (Narbonne, FR), Izzak Kelly (UBC Thunderbirds), Albert Dwan (Montpellier, FR), Will Matthews (Queen’s Gaels), Zephyr Melnyk (Nanaimo Hornets), Ian Maclean (Sydney Uni, AU), Cody Nhanala (Pacific Pride), Siaki Vikilani (Pacific Pride)

BACKS
Cole Brown (McMaster Marauders), Kevin Oh (Waterloo Warriors), Matt Percillier (UBC Thunderbirds), James Biss (Saracens, UK), Brock Webster (Pacific Pride), Ciaran Breen (Biarritz, FR), Lachlan Kratz (UVic Vikes), Jack Shaw (Bishop’s Gaiters), Jarvis Dashkewytch (UVic Vikes), Sion Griffiths (Castaway Wanderers), Isaac Olson (Castaway Wanderers), Thomas Isherwood (Pacific Pride)