Canada U20 Updates from Spain & Portugal

As this correspondence is being written Canada u20 are having their first session in Portugal under the watchful eye of Strength & Conditioning coach Mylan Clairmont on the beach of Foz do Agelho.  This tour is part of a reciprocal agreement between Canada and Portugal where the visiting team pays for flights and the host team pays for in country expenses. Next year Portugal will come to Shawnigan Lake School.
 
This tour comprises phase 2 of preparation for the Under-20 World Trophy Qualifiers versus USA in June, phase 1 having been a January selection camp in SLS .Phase 3 will be East and West camps at the end of March, and phase 4 a preparation camp in SLS in May.
 
This tour is not part of the no-pay-to-play plan envisaged for Canada u20 because the Support Group have not, as of yet, raised enough money for the capital fund of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, created so that the interest from the fund will support annual expenses for Canada u20 team. Players have paid $1500 each, with subsidies provided for players with insufficient resources.
 
The objectives for the tour are to create a foundation for the Qualifier games and to improve both individual and unit performances. Consequently Canada will play Portugal on Sunday February 17 in a full test, Portugal “A” on Wednesday February 20, both Spain and France in 40 minute games on Saturday, February 23 . The latter games are part of a 4 team tournament in Valladollid that also includes Portugal, who were responsible for Canada’s invite.
 
Canada has a party of 28 players and 7 staff. Of note Canada will be missing Will Percillier, scrum-half playing for the senior Canada team, Avery Oiteman playing for Ontario Arrows and 6 other players from the original selection. Nonetheless, there is good competition for selection.
 
At prop Tyler Rowland and Guerschom Mukendi return from last year’s team and are joined by Stefan Zuliani and Ross Tweed. Both hookers are from Newfoundland Michael McCarthy and Thomas Hagen. The second rows include Reid Davis and Tyler Duguid returning from last year with the addition of Quebec behemoth Brandon Hebert. Another returned Quentin James will play in the back row as will Henry Stevenson who has recovered from shoulder surgery. Four under-agers comprise the remaining back-row contenders: Will Matthews (brother of Jackson who played in 2018), Mason Flesch, Connor McKinney,  and Allie Bulman currently enrolled in the Harlequins Academy in London.
 
The backs have potential. At scrumhalf Canada have Sam Kahn and over-ager Brock Gallagher, invited because of the loss of 3 scrum halves from the tour. At outhalf returnee Campbell Clarke (now u18) is joined by carded sevens player Brock Webster. At centre returnees include Kevin Vertkas and Lockie Kratz, and new selections include Quinn Ngawati, Glen Butler and Antoine de la Fontaine. At wing the team has David Richard (a sevens card), Jarvis Dashquewitch and Reece Tudor Jones, and at full-back returnee Gabe Casey and Austin Pinnell.
 
Sunday’s starting team will be announced tomorrow. All players will play at least twice on tour.