Canada Men's U20 team named for first of two matches against Portugal

Canada Men's U20 team arrived in Portugal on Friday and will play Portugal on February 17 and 20. This tour is over midterm break and is attractive because flights and hotel rates were very reasonable, and the weather is lovely for a camp. In addition Portugal are great opposition, having beaten Canada U20 in their past 4 meetings.  Portugal U20 finished 2nd in the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy narrowly losing 35-34 to Japan in the final.

The cost of the tour is being covered in equal amounts by Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation from donations, meaning less than 20% of the total cost has been paid by the players themselves.

The starting team has Josh Tweed , Jared Augustin and Haeden Moher in the front row, Liam Casey and Izzak Kelly in the second row, Zephyr Melnyk, Will Matthews and Albert Dwan in the back row, Kevin Oh and Brock Webster as halfbacks, Ciaran Breen and Sion Griffiths in the centres, Jarvis Dashquewych and Matt Percillier on the wings and Thomas Isherwood fullback. To come on are front rowers Willem den Ouden, Austin Creighton, Jacob Bossi, and Alex Chitan , flanker Cody Nhanala, scrum half Cole Brown, backs Ian Maclean, Jack Shaw and Isaac Olson. Captain is Will Matthews and vice captain Brock Webster.

The following were unable to tour because of injury or unavailability: Michael Mccarthy (hooker / Pacific Pride), Tyler Duguid (tight head / Narbonne), Piers van Dedszelem (second row / Oxford University), Nick Carson (number 8 / UVic), James Biss (outside half / Saracens Academy), Lockie Kratz (center / UVic), David Richard ( Canada Men's Sevens). In addition Siaki Vikilani ( back row ) and Mehdi Porchet (second row) are on tour but recovering from injury.