PACIFIC NATIONS CUP MATCH DAY ROSTER NAMED FOR CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM VERSUS TONGA

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM NAMES MATCH DAY ROSTER FOR PACIFIC NATIONS CUP CONTEST AGAINST THE USA

The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s upcoming Pacific Nations Cup match against the United States has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.

Canada kicks off against the United States on Saturday August 31 at 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California. As Canada’s second and final pool play match, the result will help determine who Canada will play in the play-offs in Tokyo on September 14.

Canada met Japan in their opening Pacific Nations Cup match on Sunday in Vancouver, losing 55-28, but coming away with an important bonus point thanks to four tries from Andrew Coe, captain Lucas Rumball, and the McMullin twins.

Takoda McMullin moves into the starting 15, his first start for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team. Coe, who plays in the MLR with California’s RFC LA (along with Conor Young), shifts from right wing to full-back, with Cooper Coats starting on the bench in the number 23 jersey.

This match will mark the first time Canada has played in California since 2018, and the first time the North American rivals have met since splitting the results of two Rugby World Cup qualification matches in 2021.

“We’ve spoken a lot about how we need and want to start our matches better,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “Saturday’s match against the United States is not just another opportunity for us to measure ourselves against a good team, but an important contest that will dictate our position heading into the play-offs in Japan. This type of high stakes match will be good preparation for next year, when we will face the United States in the Pacific Nations Cup in a match that will help determine direct Rugby World Cup qualification.”

The match will be streamed live on TSN+. An encore showing will be broadcast on TSN3 on Sunday September 1 at 9:00am PT / 12:00pm ET.

More information about the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs UNITED STATES

1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC
   2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
   3. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
   4. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloe Rugby Club
   5. Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Vancouver Highlanders
   6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
   7. Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, USA) – New England Free Jacks
   8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
   9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Chicago Hounds
   10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
   11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Dallas Jackals
   12. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
   13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
   14. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
   15. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) – RFC LA

FINISHERS

16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
    17. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / San Diego Legion
    18. Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
    19. James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
    20. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
    21. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
    22. Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride
    23. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars

TRAINING SQUAD NAMED AS CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM PREPARES FOR PACIFIC NATIONS CUP

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will train at Shawnigan Lake School this August in preparation for the Pacific Nations Cup, with 35 players named to the training squad. 

Training camp will conclude with a Canada XV squad taking on the Vancouver Highlanders on August 17 at 3:45pm PT at Capilano Rugby Club. Canada’s final Pacific Nations Cup team will be announced following the match against the Highlanders. 

Canada will kick off the Pacific Nations Cup on Sunday August 25 at 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET at BC Place in Vancouver. Tickets are currently on sale at rugby.ca/en/tickets. The team will then travel to Los Angeles to take on the United States on Saturday August 31 at 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET.  

All six Pacific Nations Cup sides (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will convene in Japan in September for the play-offs, with the semi-finals and fifth place play-off taking place on September 14 and 15 in Tokyo, and the final and third place play-off taking place on September 21 in Osaka.  

Included in the training squad are 16 players who competed in the 2024 MLR play-offs, and five players from the recent championship winning New England Free Jacks: Andrew Quattrin, Cole Keith, Ethan Fryer, Josh Larsen and Ben LeSage. Four uncapped players will also be looking to make the Pacific Nations Cup squad: Kaden Duguid, Sam Miller, Jesse Kilgour, and Rhys James. The Pacific Pride are well represented as well, with 13 players named to the training group who have spent time with Rugby Canada’s development academy. 

An additional five players (listed below) have been invited to train with the team at Shawnigan Lake as a development opportunity.  

“We want to build momentum following our win against Romania last month,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “We are playing two teams this month who we have a lot of respect for, two good teams. It will be two challenging games, but we want to continue the winning feeling. We have an opportunity to continue developing throughout the course of the Pacific Nations Cup and build continuity and cohesion as we work towards Rugby World Cup qualification next year.”  

“There are a number of players that are unavailable for the Pacific Nations Cup due to injury, but building our depth has been a key focus over the last few seasons, and this will be an opportunity for other players to put their hands up and get valuable playing time.” 

Tickets for the Pacific Nations Cup in Vancouver are available for purchase at rugby.ca/en/tickets. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@rugby.ca. For more information on suites, please contact suites@rugby.ca. Broadcast information will be announced shortly. 

More information about the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.  

Media accreditation applications are currently being accepted here. Questions regarding media accreditation can be directed to media@rugby.ca  

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM SCHEDULE 

Canada XV vs Vancouver Highlanders 
Saturday August 17, 2024 
3:45pm PT / 6:45pm ET 
Capilano Rugby Club  
Buy tickets here 

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Japan (Pacific Nations Cup) 
Sunday August 25, 2024 
2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET 
BC Place, Vancouver 
Buy tickets here 

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs United States (Pacific Nations Cup) 
Saturday August 31, 2024 
6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET 
Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles 
Buy tickets here 

Remaining Pacific Nations Cup matches to be determined based on the results of Canada’s matches against Japan and the United States. 

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM PACIFIC NATIONS CUP TRAINING CAMP SQUAD 

FORWARDS  

Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks 
Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC  

Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – NOLA Gold 
Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks 
Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA  
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals 
Ethan Fryer (Seattle, USA) – New England Free Jacks 
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloee Rugby Club 
James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride  
Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZL) – UBCOB Ravens / Pacific Pride 
Josh Larsen (Parksville, BC) – New England Free Jacks 
Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Vancouver Highlanders 
Liam Murray (Langley, BC) – Dallas Jackals  
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds  
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds  
Matthew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) – Regina Rogues / Pacific Pride / Vancouver Highlanders  
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride 
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride  
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, Wales) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC 

BACKS 

Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) – RFC LA  
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks  
Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals  
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars 
Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) – Castaway Wanderers / Old Glory DC  
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Chicago Hounds  
Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride  
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens  
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – Queen’s University / Associates Rugby Club  
Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride     
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Dallas Jackals   
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC  
Rhys James (Kelowna, BC) – UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride  
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZL) – Utah Warriors 
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders  
Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders 

INVITED TO TRAIN 

Spencer Cotie 
Morgan Di Nardo 
Noah Flesch 
Zephyr Melnyk 
Seth Purdey 

STANDBY 

Crosby Stewart 
Djustice Sears-Duru  
Gabe Casey 
Isaac Olson 
Jake Thiel 
James Thiel 
Jamin Hodgkins 
Josh Thiel 
Lindsey Stevens 
Mitch Richardson 
Robert Povey 

TEAM CANADA’S PARIS 2024 WOMEN’S RUGBY SEVENS TEAM UNVEILED

Rugby Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the roster of Team Canada women’s rugby sevens athletes nominated to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athletes are:

1. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, B.C.) – Castaway Wanderers
2. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, Ont.) – Lindsay RFC
3. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) – CRFC
4. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, Ont.) – Toronto Nomads RFC / Westshore RFC
5. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, Ont.) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University
6. Charity Williams (Toronto, Ont.) – Markham Irish
7. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, B.C.) – University of British Columbia
8. Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, Sask.) – Kirin RFC / University of Victoria
9. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB.) – University of Victoria
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB.) – NorWester Athletic Association / Westshore RFC
11. Piper Logan (Calgary, AB.) – Calgary Hornets / University of British Columbia
12. Keyara Wardley (Vulcan, AB.) – Unaffiliated
Taylor Perry (Oakville, Ont.) – Oakville Crusaders – Alternate (Travelling)

Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team qualified for Paris 2024 on home soil in Langford, B.C. last August at the 2023 Rugby Americas North Sevens regional qualification event, going undefeated and winning 53-0 over Mexico in the final.

The team opened the 2024 HSBC SVNS season in December 2023 with a fourth place performance in Dubai, beating Ireland in the quarterfinals and playing a tight match against New Zealand in the semifinals. They went on to play in the third place play-off at three more SVNS stops throughout the season, headlined by their bronze medal in front of a home crowd in Vancouver. They finished fourth in Los Angeles and ended the season ranked fourth in the world after a strong performance at the 2024 HSBC SVNS Grand Final in Madrid that saw Canada beat New Zealand in pool play for the first time since 2016.

Charity Williams will make her third Olympic appearance. In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Williams was a member of the team that won bronze. She competed at Tokyo 2020 alongside Olivia Apps and Keyara Wardley, who are each returning for a second Olympic appearance. Williams tied with teammate Krissy Scurfield as Canada’s leading try scorer this season on the HSBC SVNS Series, both with 20 tries.

Seven players (Caroline Crossley, Alysha Corrigan, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Chloe Daniels, Charity Williams, Carissa Norsten and Piper Logan) played for Team Canada at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games where they won the silver medal. Norsten, who made her senior debut with Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team in Santiago, will look to continue to impress internationally in her Olympic debut. Norsten was the 2022 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and the 2024 HSBC SVNS Women’s Rookie of the Year.

The team will be captained by Olivia Apps, who made her SVNS Series debut in 2018. Apps has since represented Canada in 25 world series tournaments, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and two Rugby World Cup Sevens (2018 and 2022). The 25-year-old veteran has also made appearances with Canada’s women’s rugby (15s) team, including at the recent Pacific Four Series along with Fancy Bermudez, which Canada won for the first time with a historic victory over New Zealand.

“It feels really exciting to be able to be part of this group and especially to be able to share this milestone with a lot of my younger teammates. Watching them have this experience for the first time is exciting and fulfilling,” said Apps. “For me personally, I think Paris will be a different experience than Tokyo. To be able to have my friends and family there watching and having a full stadium is going to be different, and it does feel like my first Olympics in that way. Overall with this group and the growth that this team has had since Tokyo, I think in the last year we’ve really started to find our stride. There’s been a lot of confidence built this year and we’ve seen a lot of our young players really step up and take on some big roles on and off the pitch. I’m really excited to be able to put it all together and have the consistency that we’ve shown this season translate onto the field in Paris. I’m proud of the group and honoured to be able to be part of this for a second time.”

Chloe Daniels will be Canada’s vice-captain. Daniels is a former Rugby Canada Maple Leaf Development Academy player who debuted with the senior national sevens team in 2021 at the age of 18. She led Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team in points on the 2024 HSBC SVNS Series with 131.

“It’s hard to believe that the Olympic Games are just a few weeks away,” said Daniels. “Our journey this year has been incredibly inspiring for the team, boosting our confidence in competing for an Olympic medal. The dedication and hard work from both the players and staff throughout the year have prepared us to perform at our best, and we’re ready to tackle any challenges that come our way.”

Canada won its first Olympic rugby medal at Rio 2016 when the women’s rugby sevens team captured bronze in the discipline’s inaugural Olympic tournament. At Tokyo 2020, Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team did not advance from the group stage.

“As a program we’ve been building towards the Paris Olympics all season, and the players and staff are excited and honoured to be representing Canada on the Olympic stage in a few weeks,” said Jack Hanratty, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team. “We have had many milestone moments this season, but know that there’s still more that we can and want to accomplish. While we congratulate and celebrate our travelling players, every single player in our program has contributed to our journey to the Olympics.”

Women’s rugby sevens will take place July 28 to July 30 (Day 2 to 4) at the Stade de France. Canada has drawn in Pool A, alongside New Zealand, Fiji and People’s Republic of China.

‘’The Canadian women’s rugby sevens team has brilliantly converted their tries to proudly represent Canada’s colours in Paris. These resilient and versatile athletes bring exceptional depth, diversity and cohesion to the team,‘’ said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. ‘’I look forward to cheering them on as they tackle challenges and dominate at the heart of the scrum to triumph on the Olympic stage in Paris.‘’

Team Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following coaches and support staff:

Coaches
Jack Hanratty (Halifax, N.S.) – Head Coach
Jocelyn Barrieau (Montreal, Que.) – Assistant Coach
Iain Monaghan (Victoria, B.C.) – Assistant Coach

Support Staff
Jennifer Joyce (Richmond, B.C.) – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Danielle McNally (Hubbards, N.S.) – Therapist
Richard Owen (Taunton, U.K.) – Analyst
Alexandra Henry (Georgetown, Ont.) – Team Manager
Dustin Hopkins (Victoria, B.C.) – Support Personnel

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.