Featuring six BC athletes, Head Coach Kingsley Jones has named his match day roster for this weekend’s Test match against Belgium.
Canada’s Senior Men’s 15s are in Halifax, NS to take on the No. 26-ranked Belgians at the Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, July 2 before heading to Ottawa, ON next week to face Spain at TD Place.
Jones’ roster sees two of the squad’s crossover athletes with Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens, Cooper Coats – who will be playing in his hometown – and Brock Webster, start at full back and on the wing respectively. Fellow Sevens player Matthew Oworu, who is part of Rugby Canada’s Academy Program Pacific Pride, has been named among the replacements.
Gradyn Bowd of the Castaway Wanderers and Oworu’s Pacific Pride teammate Dawson Fatoric are included on the bench having been called up to the squad following their impressive performances at last month’s Coast to Coast Cup, also in Halifax, for Canada West Selects.
Jason Higgins will start at scrum half, while Lucas Rumball will captain the side as part of a roster that sees a mixture of many veterans alongside new, young talent who will get much-needed international match experience under their belts.
“We’re all looking forward to Saturday’s match against Belgium, who we’re sure will provide us with a tough test. We have had a solid week of preparation both on and off the field, and it’s great that we’re able to provide an opportunity to some new faces amongst the replacements who will be hoping to make their debut. We also look forward to the home support we’ll receive from a passionate Halifax crowd at the Wanderers Grounds.” Canada Senior Men’s XVs Kingsley Jones
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans in can watch Canada’s Senior Men’s 15s team take on Belgium LIVE on TSN 4, TSN.ca and the TSN App, with an encore presentation set to air on TSN 2 at 6:30 p.m. PT on Sunday.
CANADA SENIOR MEN’S TEAM TO FACE BELGIUM
1. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) – LA Giltinis
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
3. Jake Ilnicki (Williams Lake, BC) – Old Glory FC
4. Josh Larsen (Nanaimo, BC) – New England Free Jacks
5. Conor Keys (Stittsville, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish
6. Lucas Rumball (Markham, ON) – Toronto Arrows
7. Michael Smith (White Rock, BC) – San Diego Legion
8. Corey Thomas (Broome, Australia) – LA Giltinis
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) – San Diego Legion
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) – Aurillac
11. Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – San Diego Legion
12. Quinn Ngawati (Victoria, BC) – Rugby United New York
13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – LA Giltinis
14. Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) – Oshawa Vikings
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars
REPLACEMENTS
16. Lindsey Stevens (Sydney, Australia) – LA Giltinis
17. Liam Murray (Langley, BC) – Dallas Jackals
18. Tyler Rowland (Mississauga, ON) – Toronto Nomads
19. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
20. Luke Campbell (Victoria, BC) – Old Glory FC
21. Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) – Toronto Arrows
22. Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) – Castaway Wanderers
23. Dawson Fatoric (Ottawa, ON) – Pacific Pride