Canada Under-20: Young, Red and Ready to qualify for the World Rugby Trophy.

The athletes will arrive at Shawnigan Lake School on May 15 for a selection camp, which will include a “Probables vs. Possibles” trial match on May 19th, following which the squad that will travel to USA for the qualifiers will be selected. The 26-man roster, along with four non-travelling reserves, will remain in camp at Shawnigan Lake until June 7th and play a game against a senior representative team on May 26th and June 1st (details TBD).  

“I’m pleased with the list of athletes named today. The group has a blend of inexperienced players but players playing at a premier or university level and wanting to prove themselves,” said Williams. “And of course age grade players or returning players that will need to be on top of their game to make the squad. What we wanted from day one was competition for spots,” he added.  

The two-match qualifying series, which is decided on based on aggregate points, will be held in USA (details TBA) on June 12th and 16th.

“The next few months is going to be a tough grind but it will allow the boys to play and train together for a length of time that will benefit them on and off the field. Creating the right culture is of the utmost importance,” added Williams.

“We also have an inter-squad game, that will provide all the boys an opportunity to make this team. We have a blue collar mentality with character at the core of what we are looking for.  If we are able to do the basics, we’ll we have a chance and that’s our goal going into camp. Do the little things well! 

“USA are tough, athletic and well coached. It is a great battle and it is going to be a difficult task,” added Willliams.

If Canada qualifies for the World Rugby Trophy it will be played in Bucharest, Romania August 24 to Sept 10 and will be preceded by a camp in Shawnigan Lake School Aug 15-23.

Canada’s Under-20 Men’s Team long list:

Damon Adams – Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)
Hammad Babatunde – Assassins RFC (Winnipeg, MB)
Stanislaus Blazkowski – Racing Club Narbonne (Montreal, QC)
Steven Commerford – Brock University (Toronto, ON)
Spencer Cooper – UVIC Vikes (Vancouver, BC)
Reid Davis – Bayside RFC (Surrey, BC)
Peyton Eager – Nanaimo Hornets (Nanaimo, BC)
Joshua Engelbrecht – Queen’s University (Toronto, ON)
Elias Ergas – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Mostyn Findley – UVIC Vikes (Regina, SK)
Aidan Foley – Western University (Toronto, ON)
Brock Gallagher – James Bay AA (Edmonton, AB)
Ethan Hager – UVIC Vikes (ON)
James Hammond – Toronto Nomads (Toronto, ON)
Peter Ingoldsby – Exmouth RFC (England)
Quentin James – Perpignan (Vancouver, BC)
John Jubenvil – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Gavin Kratz – UVIC Vikes (Victoria, BC)
John Lan – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Stephen Mallard – Swiler’s RFC (St. John’s, NL)
Jackson Marquardt – Concordia University (Montreal, QC)
Logan Martin-Feek – UVIC Vikes (Victoria, BC)
Jackson Matthews – UVIC Vikes (Montreal, QC)
Jack McCarthy – Vandals RFC (St, John’s, NL)
Jack McRogers – McMaster University (Toronto, ON)
Jordon Montgomery – Castaway Wanderers (Charlottetown, PEI)
Ben Newhook – Vandals RFC (St, John’s, NL)
Evan Norris – UBC Thunderbirds (Victoria, BC)
James O’Neill – UVIC Vikes (Cochrane, AB)
Will Percillier – UBC Thunderbirds (Victoria, BC)
Alex Pipchuk – Queen’s University (Toronto, ON)
Emerson Prior – Trent University (Toronto, ON)
Brennig Prevost – UVIC Vikes (Victoria, BC)
Seth Purdey – UCal at Berkeley (Shawnigan Lake, BC)
Tyler Rowland – UBC Thunderbirds (Toronto, ON)
Owain Ruttan – UBC Thunderbirds (Toronto, ON)
Brandon Schellenberg – Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)
Harrison Smith – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Michael Smith – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Henry Stevenson – Toronto Nomads (Toronto, ON)
David Stoltz – Barrhaven Scottish (Ottawa, ON)
Sam Turner -  UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Kevin Vertkas – UBC Thunderbirds (Toronto, ON)
Tyler Wong – UVIC Vikes (Vancouver, BC)

Canada’s Under-20 Men’s Team Staff:

Jeff Williams – Head Coach
Adam Roberts – Assistant Coach
Adam Kleeberger – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Pat Parfrey – Manager
Mike Flynn – Co-Manager
Derrick Pue – Video analyst
Kiyomi Thompson – Physiotherapist

This extensive preparation period has been facilitated by the Canada Under-20 Support Group comprised of:

Karl Fix (Chair)
David Robertson
Andrew Purdey
Bill Webb
Mike Holmes
Pat Parfrey

The objective of this group is to ensure optimal selection and preparation for the Under-20 team, so that ultimately it can challenge for the World Rugby Trophy. The intent is to raise enough capital as to ensure that players do not have to pay to play for their country.

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