MATCH DAY ROSTER NAMED FOR CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM VERSUS JAPAN IN VANCOUVER
Rugby 15s Senior Men
The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup against Japan in Vancouver has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.
The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup against Japan in Vancouver has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.
Canada and Japan will kick off at 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET on Sunday August 25 at BC Place for their first match of the reimagined Pacific Nations Cup, a new annual tournament contested between Canada, Japan, the United States, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, the 2025 edition of which will serve as a direct qualification pathway for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Kaden Duguid will earn his first cap for Canada, starting in the second row. Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Duguid is a graduate of Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride Development Academy and spent last season in France’s Fédérale 1 league.
Calixto Martinez, one of nine players on the match day roster who played their first caps this July in Ottawa, has earned his first start for Canada.
Making their return to the match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team for the first time since the 2023 La Vila International Rugby Cup are Izzak Kelly and Matthew Oworu. Kelly is back on home soil after spending the season in the Western Australia Premier Grade league with Cottesloe, while Oworu spent the 2024 season on the HSBC SVNS Series with Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team.
This match will mark the first time Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has played at BC Place since 2019, and the first time Canada and Japan have met since 2016, a match which was also contested at BC Place. Captain Lucas Rumball and Djustice Sears-Duru were both in the starting 15 for the match in 2016.
“The team is excited to be in Vancouver. We know from our tests in July how valuable it is to play on home soil, and we’re looking forward to what we know will be a good challenge for our team,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “We have a young roster of players who have proven themselves with their professional and club teams, the Pacific Pride, and in Ottawa earlier this summer, with our veteran players providing great experience and leadership. Despite some injuries, we’ve been able to maintain continuity and really look to grow as a squad with each match.”
Tickets for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team against Japan on August 25 at 2:00pm PT at BC Place are available at rugby.ca/en/tickets. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@rugby.ca. For more information on suites, please contact suites@rugby.ca.
The match will be broadcast live on TSN3 and TSN+.
More information about the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.
Media accreditation applications are currently being accepted here. Questions regarding media accreditation can be directed to media@rugby.ca.
CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs JAPAN
1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) - Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
4. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloe Rugby Club
5. Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) - Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Vancouver Highlanders
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
7. Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, USA) – New England Free Jacks
8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Chicago Hounds
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Dallas Jackals
12. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
14. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) - RFC LA
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Tars
FINISHERS
16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
17. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders / San Diego Legion
18. Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
19. James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
20. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
21. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) - Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
22. Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride
23. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders