Canada finishes as Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge runner-up with win over Tonga

Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team closed out the 2025 Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge with a 57-27 win over Tonga at King Charles Park in Nadi, finishing second overall in the tournament.

Starting strong, Angus Dewar scored off a pick and go to give Canada an early lead. After missing a penalty kick, Tonga tied the game in the 10th minute off a lineout. Kaea Griffiths gave Canada back the lead in the 17th minute however, sending a grubber through the Tongan defence and chasing it into the corner.

Tonga tied the score yet again moments later, but a penalty try put Canada ahead once more in the 34th minute, with Tonga penalized for collapsing the maul.

Shortly after, Canada capitalized on an overlap, with the ball sent out wide to Liam James for a try between the uprights, converted by Kohl Kletke.

Despite one last attempt from Tonga in the first half, Canada’s counter ruck kept their lead at 24-10 at half-time.

The second half started similarly to the first, with Canada putting immediate pressure on Tonga and Kletke converting his own try one minute in. 

Despite two tries for Tonga, Canada continued to lead 31-20. The Canadians took advantage of a yellow card to Tonga in the 54th minute, with Seb Poyser finding the try line off a driving maul, Kletke kicking another good conversion.

A rolling maul in the 59th minute sent Josh Du Toit over the line, Kletke’s conversion putting Canada up 45-20.

Tonga scored their final try of the game in the 65th minute, followed by two yellow cards to Tonga in the last 10 minutes to give Canada the player advantage to close out the game.

Another driving maul off a lineout led to a try from Daniel Lucic in the 79th minute. James scored his second of the game to finish the match in extra time, kicking the ball over the Tongan defenders, gathering the rebound and diving over the try line. Joe Kaufmann converted the try to complete the 57-27 victory.

Canada finished as the tournament runner-up with wins over Samoa and Tonga and a loss to hosts Fiji.

CANADA’S U20 MEN’S RUGBY TEAM ROSTER vs TONGA

1. Angus Dewar (Vancouver, BC) – Queen’s University / UBCOB Ravens
2. Alistair Yeomans (Mississauga, ON) – University of Guelph / Mississauga Blues
3. Cole Harris (Uxbridge, ON) – Pacific Pride / Brock RFC
4. Daragh Doyle (Quebec City, QC) – Clontarf FC
5. Sebastian Poyser (Manuden, UK) - University of Nottingham / Bishop’s Stortford
6. Coen Quinn (Ottawa, ON) - Queen’s University / Bytown Blues RFC
7. Kaea Griffiths (Penzance, ENG) - Camborne RFC
8. Liam Kinghorn (Calgary, AB) – University of British Columbia / Calgary Irish
9. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) - University of British Columbia / Balmy Beach Rugby Club
10. Joshua McIndoe (Victoria, BC) – University of Victoria / Greerton Marist Rugby Club
11. Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) – University of Victoria
12. Jimmy Leach (London, ENG) – Brunel University
13. Liam Turnbull (Vancouver, BC) – UBCOB Ravens
14. Liam James (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / UBCOB Ravens
15. Kohl Kletke (Oakville, ON) - Western University / Oakville Crusaders

FINISHERS

16. Josh Du Toit (Cape Town, RSA) – University of British Columbia / Capilano RFC
17. Daniel Lucic (Oakville, ON) - University of Guelph / Oakville Crusaders
18. James Noftall (Conception Bay South, NL) - University of British Columbia / Swilers RFC
19. Quinn Foley (Oakville, ON) – University of Guelph / Oakville Crusaders
20. Adam Doane (Sutton, ON) – University of Victoria / Aurora Barbarians
21. Daniel Muzaliwa (Cape Town, RSA) – University of Waterloo / Waterloo County
22. Reece Thompson (Uxbridge, ON) – University of Victoria / Barrie Rugby
23. Joe Kaufmann (Kingston, ON) - Kingston Panthers / La Salle School