Rugby Canada to host U20s Canada Conference 2022 at the University of Guelph this August

Rugby Canada will host the U20s Canada Conference 2022, an international Men’s U20s tournament organized in partnership with World Rugby, in August at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

Before the World Rugby U20 Trophy returns in 2023, Canada has been selected to stage a replacement tournament from August 13-23 which will provide key high-performance competition for its Men’s U20 program, as well as those of participating unions Uruguay, Zimbabwe and Chile.

Supported by World Rugby, the U20s Canada Conference confirms the international federation’s commitment to support the rugby pathway for the next generation of rugby talent, who will eventually improve the competitiveness of their senior teams.

“We would like to thank World Rugby for giving us the opportunity to host this event,” commented Dustin Hopkins, Managing Director of Rugby Operations, Rugby Canada. “This tournament will provide much-needed game time for our U20s program in a competitive environment. We would also like to thank our venue, the University of Guelph, for their partnership. We look forward to staging a successful event.”

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont, said: “U20 tournaments have proven to be a successful pathway for young talents in our unions to flourish, gain international experience and prepare for test rugby. Before the global World Rugby U20 Trophy return next year, we are delighted to support our unions and Rugby Canada in delivering the U20s Canada Conference, a fantastic opportunity for promising rugby players to compete at the highest level.”

Taking place in a round-robin format, the event’s first stage of matches will take place on Saturday, August 13, followed by subsequent rounds on Thursday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 23. The full schedule is below:

Match Day 1 - August 13, 2022
Kickoff 4:00 p.m. ET: Chile vs. Uruguay
Kick off 6:30 p.m. ET: Canada vs. Zimbabwe

Match Day 2 – August 18, 2022
Kickoff 4:00 p.m. ET: Uruguay vs. Zimbabwe
Kickoff 6:30 p.m. ET: Canada vs. Chile

Match Day 3 – August 23, 2022
Kickoff 4:00 p.m. ET: Chile vs. Zimbabwe
Kickoff 6:30 p.m. ET: Canada vs. Uruguay

This is a non-ticketed event and fans who wish to attend the matches are encouraged to do so. Broadcast and partnership details will be confirmed in due course.

Canada’s Men’s U20s squad named

Ahead of the tournament, Canada’s Men’s U20s Head Coach Adam Roberts has named his 28-man squad. Sam Reimer, who has made his way through Rugby Canada’s Age Grade programs and has featured for Pacific Pride as well as the Toronto Arrows, is joined by the youngest Major League Rugby signee and fellow Arrow Kobe Faust.

Born and raised in White Rock, BC, brothers and multi-sport athletes Talon and Takoda McMullin are part of the roster, as is Lucas Schek, who has featured for Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens program. Current Pacific Pride players Alastair Bruce, Jack East, Mathew Klimchuk and Tyler Matchem are also on the squad.

“We are extremely excited to be hosting the August test series with Zimbabwe, Chile and Uruguay,” said Roberts. “We have some very talented rugby players on our squad that are exciting to watch and who have come from a wide range of backgrounds. We look forward to what will be a thrilling event and an excellent showcase of the up-and-coming talent Canada has to offer.”

CANADA’S MEN’S U20 ROSTER FOR U20s CANADA CONFERENCE 2022

1. James Biss (London, England) - Durham University
2. Liam Bowman (Oakville, ON) - US Montauban
3. Alastair Bruce (Cape Town, South Africa) - Pacific Pride
4. Ted Champion (Hong Kong) - University of Arizona
5. Taine Clague (Victoria, BC) - University of Victoria
6. Jack East (Wanaka, New Zealand) - Pacific Pride
7. Michael DiLella Jr. (Orono, ON) - Guelph University
8. Adam Doyle (Kingston, ON) - Queens University
9. Kobe Faust (Uxbridge, ON) - Guelph University / Toronto Arrows
10. Ethan Fryer (Seattle, USA) - Pacific Pride / New England Free Jacks
11. Jamin Hodgkins (Bermuda) - Cardiff Met University
12. Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) - Guelph University
13. Sol Jacques (Kelowna, BC) - UBC
14. Ethan Jurgeneit (Barrie, ON) - Trinity Western University
15. Mathew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) - Pacific Pride
16. Alastair Marshall (Hudson Bay, SK) - UBC
17. Tyler Matchem (Halifax, NS) - Pacific Pride
18. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) - UBC
19. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC
20. Joe McNulty (North Vancouver, BC ) - Capilano RFC
21. Medhi Porchet (Geneva, Switzerland) - Stade Montois RFC
22. Sam Reimer (Ajax, ON) - Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
23. Lukas Schek (Regina, SK) – Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens
24. David Scollon (Mississauga, ON) - Guelph University
25. Peyton Teneyche (Brandon, MB) - UBC
26. Logan Weidner (North Vancouver, BC ) Brive RFC
27. Caden Wilson (Vancouver, BC) - UBC
28. Relmu Wilson-Valdez (Nelson, BC) - UBC

STAFF

Adam Roberts (White Rock, BC) - Head Coach
Clay Panga (Victoria, BC) – Assistant Coach
Cory Hector (Guelph, ON) – Assistant Coach
LeeEllen Carroll (Ottawa, ON) - Manager
Aiyanna Grubec (Nanaimo, BC) - Athletic Therapist
Jalin Couper (Victoria, BC) - Athletic Therapist
Derek Pue (Kamloops, BC) - Video Analyst
Rodin Lozada (Toronto, ON) - Video Analyst
Mike Jorgenson (Peterborough, ON) - Mental Skills