Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team set to compete in La Vila International Rugby Cup this November

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will play two matches this November in the four-team La Vila International Rugby Cup in Villajoyosa, Spain.

Canada will play against hosts Spain at El Pantano Stadium on Saturday November 11 at 8:00pm local time (11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET), having last played Spain in Ottawa in July 2022. With the United States and Brazil competing as well, the following weekend will see the winners of the first set of games play in the final, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00pm local time (11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET) on Saturday November 18. This will be preceded by the third place play-off at 4:00pm local time (7:00am PT / 10:00am ET).

“We’re looking forward to what should be two good test matches, and I’m excited to get back into it with the boys and represent Canada on the world stage,” said Lucas Rumball. “We have had limited games together and know that the more matches we can play at a higher level, the better. These will help us develop both as individuals and as a team, and we are looking forward to getting straight to work in Spain.”

“Since returning from Fiji and Tonga in August, we have had a number of players training out of the National Training Centre in Langford, with others gaining valuable experience in domestic leagues and abroad in leagues such as New Zealand’s NPC,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “This week we are holding integrated training sessions with several West Coast-based players and the Pacific Pride Academy, a great collaborative and competitive opportunity for players as we near our departure to Villajoyosa. Our players are hungry to return to international competition and eagerly await our November 11 meeting with Spain.”

A long list of 43 players has been named, from which a 32-player travelling roster will be selected.

Broadcast information will be announced shortly. Tickets are on sale here.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM LA VILA INTERNATIONAL RUGBY CUP LONG LIST

FORWARDS
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – Pacific Pride / New Plymouth Old Boys
Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
Conor Keys (Stittsville, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Ottawa Ospreys / New England Free Jacks
Conor Young (Yamba, Australia) – Greater Sydney Rams / New England Free Jacks
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / San Diego Legion
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) - Peterborough Pagans / Utah Warriors
Foster Dewitt (Courtney, BC) – Westshore RFC / New England Free Jacks
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Spotswood United RFC
Jake Thiel (Victoria, BC) - James Bay AA
Kyle Baillie (Summerside, PEI) – Halifax Tars / Old Glory DC
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Manitoba Wombats / Dallas Jackals
Liam Murray (Langley, BC) – Dallas Jackals
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto Arrows
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
Matthew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) – Regina Rogues / Pacific Pride
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) - Pacific Pride
Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – Oxford University
Siaki Vikilani (Vancouver, BC) – Burnaby Lake RFC / The American Raptors
Tyler Rowland (Mississauga, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
Tyler Wong (North Vancouver, BC) – Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
Zephyr Melnyk (Gabriola Island, BC) – Nanaimo Hornets / Pacific Pride

BACKS
Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) - Rugby New York
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
Ciaran Breen (Victoria, BC) – Cowichan RFC / Toronto Arrows
David Richard (Milton, ON) - Mississauga Blues RFC
D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) – Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
Gabe Casey (Ottawa, ON) – University of Victoria
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Jack Shaw (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Rugby Atlanta
Jamin Hodgkins (Bermuda) - Cardiff Met University
Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) – San Diego Legion
Josh Thiel (Victoria, BC) - James Bay AA
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – Queen’s University / Houston SaberCats
Liam Bowman (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Toronto Arrows
Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek, ON) – McMaster University / Toronto Arrows
Noah Bain (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Victoria
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) – Dungannon RFC / Toronto Arrows
Reid Watkins (Okotoks, AB) – Seattle Seawolves
Robbie Povey (Northampton, UK) – Long Bukby RFC / Houston SaberCats
Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) – Toronto Arrows