Men’s Canada Selects training squad named ahead of match versus Vancouver Highlanders

Twenty-eight players have been named to a men’s Canada Selects squad preparing to play the Vancouver Highlanders on Friday June 28 at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club.  

The match will be the first in a double-header evening that will see the Vancouver Highlanders open their season by taking on the Canada Selects, with kick-off at 4:30pm PT, and Barbados.  

This match will provide a valuable high performance training opportunity for top Canadian talent outside the MLR that will build into July, with the possibility of players from both the Canada Selects and the Vancouver Highlanders making the roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s matches in Ottawa. It will also see the continuation of work that has been done by players from an extended Pacific Pride group, with the full Canada Selects training squad convening in Langford on Monday following the conclusion of the Coast to Coast cup. 

Several U20 players have been named to the squad as well, providing an opportunity for them to continue training at a high level and with Rugby Canada high performance staff following the World Rugby U20 Trophy qualifier matches held on Vancouver Island earlier this month.  

The Canada Selects will be led by Phil Mack, Attack Coach of Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team, who will be supported by John MacFarland and Dave Butcher.  

“It’s great to have this opportunity for some of the country’s best domestic players to go head-to-head. With the Coast to Coast Cup also currently ongoing, this is the first time in a while where we’ve had about 250 men’s players from across the country participating in competition of this level within the span of a week,” said Mack. “Players from both squads have put in a lot of work over the last few weeks and months, and we’re looking forward to seeing that continue as we bring this group together for an intensive week of training.” 

Information on how to buy tickets to watch the Canada Selects play the Vancouver Highlanders on Friday June 28 at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, and more information on the Vancouver Highlanders, can be found here. 

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s squad for the upcoming matches in Ottawa will be named on Tuesday June 25. Tickets to watch Canada play Scotland on July 6 and Romania on July 12 are currently on sale here. More information is available here. 

FORWARDS 

Braden Bruce (Buckhorn, ON) – Peterborough Pagans / Pacific Pride 
Bryce Worden (Saint John, NB) - Burnaby Lake Rugby Cub  
James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride 
Jeffrey Young (Toronto, ON) - Toronto Nomads / Bedwas RFC 
Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZL) - UBCOB Ravens / Pacific Pride 
Jordan Auger (Ottawa, ON) – University of Victoria / Barrhaven Scottish 
Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) - Nor’Westers Athletic Association 
Moe Steves (Victoria, BC) - James Bay AA / University of Victoria 
Olly Wiseman (London, ENG) - Cardiff Metropolitan University 
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride 
Siaki Vikilani (Vancouver, BC) – Burnaby Lake RFC / The American Raptors 
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Pontypridd RFC 
Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC 
Zephyr Melnyk (Gabriola Island, BC) – Nanaimo Hornets / Pacific Pride 

BACKS  

Crosby Stewart (Prince Rupert, BC) – James Bay AA 
James Thiel (Abbotsford, BC) – Pacific Pride / Abbotsford RFC 
Jamin Hodgkins (Bermuda) - Bridgend Ravens
Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride   
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – Queen’s University 
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride   
Matthew Bennett (Victoria, BC) - University of Victoria 
Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride   
Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) - Toronto City Rugby / University of Victoria 
Mostyn Findlay (Regina, SK) - James Bay AA 
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) – Dungannon RFC 
Rhys James (Haverfordwest, WAL) - UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride 
Spencer Cotie (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers / University of Victoria 
Thomas Burton (Ormstown, QC) - James Bay AA