Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team battles through second loss to the USA

USA Rugby has earned the North American berth for the 2023 World Rugby U20 Trophy following a two-game series against Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

With the winner determined by aggregate score, the Americans took the first game on June 6 by a score of 43-21, meaning that Canada had to win the second game by 23 points to progress to the World Rugby U20 Trophy, which returns this season for the first time since 2019.

While Canada was the first to strike in the first game (full recap here), this time the Americans were first on the board, taking a 5-0 lead in the opening five minutes.

Noah Flesch made a statement by responding with a bounce back try for Canada off a pass from Brenden Black. The try was converted by Owain Cormack, giving Canada a 7-5 lead.

Back-and-forth play ensued throughout the first half, with both teams’ defence put to the test and close calls at both ends of the pitch. A penalty kick gave the USA a brief 8-7 lead, but Canada made their way back to the Americans’ try zone, recycling the ball and sending Craig Mitchell-Hermann out wide for Canada’s second try of the game with under 10 minutes left until half-time. Another good conversion from Cormack gave Canada a 14-8 lead.

However, the Americans scored two more tries before half-time, converting both to lead 22-14 heading into the final 40 minutes. They held off Canada’s efforts for the remainder of the game, scoring three unanswered tries (one converted) in the second half to win the game by a final score of 39-14.

Canada’s U20 Men’s Team returned to action for the first time since the pandemic in 2022, with East and West camps in July and the U20s Canada Conference in August. Prior to this year's World Rugby U20 Trophy Qualifiers, the squad travelled to Uruguay for test matches against Uruguay and Spain.

The U20 Men’s Team was the first Canadian age grade team to see competition in 2023. U23, U20 and U18 women's teams and the U18 Men's Team will all be in action this summer as well, and rosters as well as competition and camp details will be announced shortly.

JUNE 10 MATCH DAY ROSTER
*(view the full series roster here)

1. Aaron Clark (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Canucks RFC
2. Jeffrey Young (Toronto, ON) – Cardiff Met RFC / Toronto Nomads
3. Cole Kelly (Mississauga, ON) – Trinity College Dublin / Wicklow RFC
4. Sol Jacques (Penticton, BC) – University of British Columbia / Penticton Harlequins
5. Caden Wilson (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
6. Grant Meadows (Richmond Hill, ON) – Brock University / Aurora Barbarians
7. Taine Clague (Victoria, BC) – University of Victoria / James Bay AA
8. Olly Wiseman (Chiswick, UK) – Cardiff Met RFC / London Wasps
9. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Crescent School
10. Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Guelph University / Oakville Crusaders
11. James Thiel (Abbotsford, BC) – Pacific Pride / Abbotsford RFC
12. Noah Flesch (Coburg, ON) – Pacific Pride / Coburg Saxons
13. Liam Poulton (Chilliwack, BC) – University of Victoria / Castaway Wanderers
14. Craig Mitchell-Hermann (Abbotsford, BC) – James Bay AA
15. Owain Cormack (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / Capilano RFC

FINISHERS

16. Evan Roy (Ottawa, ON) – University of Ottawa / Ottawa Beavers
17. Jordan Auger (Ottawa, ON) – University of Victoria / Barrhaven Scottish
19. Brady White (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC
21. Muiredach Casey (Ottawa, ON) – University of Victoria / Barrhaven Scottish
22. Lachlan McGrigor (Toronto, ON) – Bath University
23. Alastair Marshall (Hudson Bay, SK) – University of British Columbia / Regina Rogues
24. Marcus D’Acre (Oakville, ON) – Queen’s University / Oakville Crusaders
26. Charles Trollip (Guelph, ON) – Guelph RFC