31 players named to Canada Selects squad ahead of match against the Seattle Seawolves

Thirty-one players have been named to the Canada Selects squad preparing to play the MLR’s Seattle Seawolves on Wednesday February 21 at Starfire Sports Complex, the home of the two-time MLR champions. Players will travel to Seattle this week following training camp in Langford, with Wednesday’s match providing a quality competition opportunity for emerging national team players.    

Amongst the 31, which has representation from eight provinces, are six players who played for Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team in 2022 and/or 2023. Four players join the squad from Canada’s men’s sevens program: Jake Thiel, Liam Bowman, Kobe Faust and Jack McCarthy. Six players competed with university programs in the fall, five of whom played in the 2023 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship. 

Kainoa Lloyd, Izzak Kelly, Siaki Vikilani, Josh Thiel and Matt Klimchuk will bring senior international experience to the group, with Vikilani set to captain the team. Also named to the squad is D’Shawn Bowen, who has played for Canada A and Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team. 

Included in the squad are 12 players who also competed in Friday evening’s practice game between the Pacific Pride Academy and the Seattle Seawolves. This includes Griffin Phillipson, who had been slated to join the Toronto Arrows in January and recently joined the Pacific Pride.  

The Canada Selects will play on Wednesday with an expanded roster, which will be announced on Rugby Canada’s social media accounts (@rugbycanada). 

Tickets are available for purchase here. A buy one, get one free ticket offer is available for Canadian fans here. While a livestream will not be available, fans are encouraged to follow the Seattle Seawolves on social media (@seawolvesrugby) for updates and more information.  

FORWARDS 
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Pacific Pride 
Ben James (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Pacific Pride  
Braden Bruce (Buckhorn, ON) – Peterborough Pagans / Pacific Pride  
Bryce Worden (Saint John, NB) - Burnaby Lake Rugby club  
Colton Mocon (Bracebridge, ON) – University of British Columbia  
Griffin Phillipson (Ballymena, NIR) – Pacific Pride  
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Spotswood United RFC 
Jacob Bossi (Victoria, BC) – University of British Columbia / Spotswood United RFC / Vancouver Highlanders 
Jake Thiel (Victoria, BC) - James Bay AA  
James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride  
Matthew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) – Regina Rogues / Pacific Pride / Vancouver Highlanders 
Sam Mace (Kingston, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Pacific Pride / Vancouver Highlanders  
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride  
Siaki Vikilani (Vancouver, BC) – Burnaby Lake RFC / The American Raptors 
Thomas Davidson (Chelsea, QC) – Castaway Wanderers / Vancouver Highlanders  
Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC 
Von Richardson (Manteca, CA) – Abbotsford / Chilliwack RFC / Pacific Pride  

BACKS 
Crosby Stewart (Prince Rupert, BC) – James Bay AA  
D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) – James Bay AA / Vancouver Highlanders  
Jack McCarthy (St. John’s, NL) – Memorial University  
Jacob Bourne (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia  
James Thiel (Abbotsford, BC) – Pacific Pride / Abbotsford RFC / Vancouver Highlanders 
Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride  
Josh Thiel (Victoria, BC) - James Bay AA / Vancouver Highlanders 
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – Queen’s University / Houston SaberCats  
Kobe Faust (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Gryphons  
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride  
Liam Bowman (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders 
Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride  
Takoda McMullin (Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders  
Talon McMullin (Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders