Training squad named as Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team prepares for Pacific Nations Cup

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will train at Shawnigan Lake School this August in preparation for the Pacific Nations Cup, with 35 players named to the training squad. 

Training camp will conclude with a Canada XV squad taking on the Vancouver Highlanders on August 17 at 3:45pm PT at Capilano Rugby Club. Canada’s final Pacific Nations Cup team will be announced following the match against the Highlanders. 

Canada will kick off the Pacific Nations Cup on Sunday August 25 at 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET at BC Place in Vancouver. Tickets are currently on sale at rugby.ca/en/tickets. The team will then travel to Los Angeles to take on the United States on Saturday August 31 at 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET.  

All six Pacific Nations Cup sides (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will convene in Japan in September for the play-offs, with the semi-finals and fifth place play-off taking place on September 14 and 15 in Tokyo, and the final and third place play-off taking place on September 21 in Osaka.  

Included in the training squad are 16 players who competed in the 2024 MLR play-offs, and five players from the recent championship winning New England Free Jacks: Andrew Quattrin, Cole Keith, Ethan Fryer, Josh Larsen and Ben LeSage. Four uncapped players will also be looking to make the Pacific Nations Cup squad: Kaden Duguid, Sam Miller, Jesse Kilgour, and Rhys James. The Pacific Pride are well represented as well, with 13 players named to the training group who have spent time with Rugby Canada’s development academy. 

An additional five players (listed below) have been invited to train with the team at Shawnigan Lake School as a development opportunity.  

“We want to build momentum following our win against Romania last month,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “We are playing two teams this month who we have a lot of respect for, two good teams. It will be two challenging games, but we want to continue the winning feeling. We have an opportunity to continue developing throughout the course of the Pacific Nations Cup and build continuity and cohesion as we work towards Rugby World Cup qualification next year.”  

“There are a number of players that are unavailable for the Pacific Nations Cup due to injury, but building our depth has been a key focus over the last few seasons, and this will be an opportunity for other players to put their hands up and get valuable playing time.” 

Tickets for the Pacific Nations Cup in Vancouver are available for purchase 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. Broadcast information will be announced shortly. 

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 SCHEDULE 

Canada XV vs Vancouver Highlanders 
Saturday August 17, 2024 
3:45pm PT / 6:45pm ET 
Capilano Rugby Club  
Buy tickets here 

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Japan (Pacific Nations Cup) 
Sunday August 25, 2024 
2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET 
BC Place, Vancouver 
Buy tickets here 

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs United States (Pacific Nations Cup) 
Saturday August 31, 2024 
6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET 
Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles 
Buy tickets here 

Remaining Pacific Nations Cup matches to be determined based on the results of Canada’s matches against Japan and the United States. 

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM PACIFIC NATIONS CUP TRAINING CAMP SQUAD 

FORWARDS  
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks 
Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) - Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC  
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – NOLA Gold 
Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks 
Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA  
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals 
Ethan Fryer (Seattle, USA) – New England Free Jacks 
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloee Rugby Club 
James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride  
Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZL) - UBCOB Ravens / Pacific Pride 
Josh Larsen (Parksville, BC) - New England Free Jacks 
Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) - Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Vancouver Highlanders 
Liam Murray (Langley, BC) – Dallas Jackals  
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds  
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds  
Matthew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) – Regina Rogues / Pacific Pride / Vancouver Highlanders  
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride 
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) - Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride  
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, Wales) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC 

BACKS 
Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) - RFC LA  
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks  
Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) - Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals  
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Tars 
Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) - Castaway Wanderers / Old Glory DC  
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Chicago Hounds  
Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride  
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens  
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – Queen’s University / Associates Rugby Club  
Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride     
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Dallas Jackals   
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC  
Rhys James (Kelowna, BC) - UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride  
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZL) - Utah Warriors 
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders  
Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders 

INVITED TO TRAIN 
Spencer Cotie 
Morgan Di Nardo 
Noah Flesch 
Zephyr Melnyk 
Seth Purdey 

STANDBY 
Crosby Stewart 
Djustice Sears-Duru  
Gabe Casey 
Isaac Olson 
Jake Thiel 
James Thiel 
Jamin Hodgkins 
Josh Thiel 
Lindsey Stevens 
Mitch Richardson 
Robert Povey