Big names missing from Canada squad for UK tour

Canada will travel to the UK without several of their top professionals next month. A 30-man squad was unveiled on Monday with two more to be added pending fitness tests. Both are expected to be loose forwards. LA’s Corey Thomas and Toronto’s Siaki Vikilani each suffered knocks on the weekend.

Absent are five France-based forwards including captain Tyler Ardron. Castres clubmate and tighthead prop Matt Tierney, Montpellier lock Tyler Duguid, Biarritz lock Evan Olmstead, and soon-to-be Bressane flanker Matt Beukeboom are also out.

Others listed as unavailable include World Cup forwards Kyle Baillie and Luke Campbell, and two uncapped possibles – LA hooker Lindsey Stevens and national u20 standout Nick Carson. Rouen Normandie flyhalf Shane O’Leary has been overlooked.

Halfback pair Will Percillier and Peter Nelson are the only European-based players in the squad with three members of the Pacific Pride centralized development side getting the call. The remaining 25 are from Major League Rugby including nine from the Toronto Arrows.

Uncapped inclusions are loosehead prop Liam Murray, hooker Foster Dewitt, tighthead prop Tyler Rowland, flanker Michael Smith, scrumhalves Ross Braude and Fraser Hurst, midfielders Spencer Jones, Lockie Kratz, and Quinn Ngawati, and winger Isaac Olson.

Rugby ATL skipper Matt Heaton and Arrows co-captains Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage are the nominated leadership group. Second rows Lucas Albornoz and Reegan O’Gorman are selected despite not being named on the 40-man longlist earlier this month.

The first test against Wales is scheduled for July 3 in Cardiff, followed by England at Twickenham on July 10. Broadcast details in Canada are yet to be confirmed.

FORWARDS
Jake Ilnicki (Seattle Seawolves), Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows), Liam Murray (Houston SaberCats), Tyler Rowland (Toronto Arrows), Djustice Sears-Duru (Seattle Seawolves), Foster Dewitt (Pacific Pride), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Andrew Quattrin (Toronto Arrows), Lucas Albornoz (Houston SaberCats), Conor Keys (Rugby ATL), Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks), Reegan O’Gorman (Austin Gilgronis), Matt Heaton (Rugby ATL), Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows), Michael Smith (San Diego Legion)

BACKS
Ross Braude (Toronto Arrows), Fraser Hurst (Utah Warriors), Will Percillier (Stade Francais, FR), Will Kelly (Toronto Arrows), Peter Nelson (Bressane, FR), Spencer Jones (Toronto Arrows), Lockie Kratz (NOLA Gold), Ben LeSage (Toronto Arrows), Quinn Ngawati (Rugby United New York), Cole Davis (Austin Gilgronis), Doug Fraser (Old Glory DC), Kainoa Lloyd (Pacific Pride), Isaac Olson (Pacific Pride), Patrick Parfrey (Toronto Arrows), Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats)