Senior Men’s 15s Roster Announced For Saturday Match Versus Portugal

November 4, 2021 (Lisbon, PT) - Head coach Kingsley Jones has announced Canada’s National Senior Men’s 15s roster ahead of the team’s upcoming November 6 fixture versus No. 19-ranked Portugal, 10:00am ET/7:00am PT at CAR Rugby Do Jamor, Lisbon. The match is presented by DHL Rugby. 

It’s a fresh start for Canada, who have shifted focus from World Cup qualification to increased competition and minutes for a number of players following an extended period of downtime brought on as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Portugal and Canada have played four prior test matches, although the sides haven’t met since 2013. Portugal has seen positive results of late, defeating Spain and Brazil over the past year while also having a successful run in the European Nations Cup.

“Portugal look like favourites to finish as the team that goes to the World Cup from the European Nations Cup, so it’s a big challenge,” said Jones. “I want to see our players continue their learning, particularly defensively—that is an area we need to get better at. There are lots of good things, our set pieces have been excellent, I want to see that continue to grow and I want to see players excited to play and bounce back from a disappointing result last time out.”

Jones’ lineup features a familiar group from the team’s most recent October matches, but with players such as Cole Keith, Michael Smith and Quinn Ngawati shifting to starting roles. The line-up also features a Canadian debut at flyhalf for Spencer Jones with Peter Nelson taking the #15 fullback role. Isaac Olson could earn his first Canadian cap as a reserve for the match.

Saturday’s match versus Portugal is being produced locally and will be streamed live on the unions internal channel,  www.rugbytv.pt. The broadcast will feature Portuguese commentary, requires no subscription and is available to watch free of charge for viewers in Canada.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S MATCH DAY ROSTER

FORWARDS
Cole Keith - Sussex, NB - Toronto Arrows
Andrew Quattrin - Holland Landing, ON - Toronto Arrows
Jake Ilnicki - Williams Lake, BC - Old Glory DC
Conor Keys - Stittsville, ON - Rugby ATL
Kyle Baillie - Summerside, PEI - Toronto Arrows
Lucas Rumball - Scarborough, ON - Toronto Arrows (c)
Michael Smith - White Rock, BC - San Diego Legion
Rob Povey - Calgary, AB - Houston SaberCats

BACKS
Ross Braude - Pretoria, SA - Toronto Arrows
Spencer Jones - Cambridge, NZ - Toronto Arrows
Kainoa Lloyd - Mississauga, ON - James Bay AA
Quinn Ngawati - Victoria, BC - Rugby United New York
Ben LeSage - Calgary, AB - Toronto Arrows
Brock Webster - Uxbridge, ON - Canada Men’s 7s
Peter Nelson - Dungannon, UK - Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne

RESERVES
Eric Howard - Edmonton, AB - NOLA Gold
Djustice Sears-Duru - Oakville, ON - Unattached
Foster DeWitt - Courtenay, BC – Pacific Pride Performance Academy
Corey Thomas - Perth, Western AUS - LA Giltinis
Josh Larsen - Parksville, BC - New England Free Jacks
Lachlan Kratz – Victoria, BC - NOLA Gold
Jason Higgins - Cork, IRE - Toronto Arrows
Isaac Olson - Vernon, BC - Canada Men’s 7s

ABOUT RUGBY CANADA
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, residing on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Te’mexw Treaty Association, and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.