CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM'S 28-PLAYER TOURNAMENT TEAM NAMED FOR PACIFIC NATIONS CUP

Canada kicks off the Pacific Nations Cup on August 22 at 6:00pm PT / 7:00pm MT / 9:00pm ET, taking on the world number 16th ranked USA Eagles on home soil. Tickets are available for purchase here and the match will be available on TSN3 and TSN+.  

The naming of Canada’s Tournament Team follows a 2-week long training camp in Calgary and a preparation match against the Alberta Wolf Pack. 

"We were really pleased with the training match we played against the Wolf Pack in Red Deer.” Said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Both teams played in the right spirit, the way the officials ran things was terrific, Erika and her team at Titans Rugby and the local support was brilliant. It was a very valuable exercise, and we couldn’t have asked for more. It was a hit out we needed."

24 players return from the squad that represented Canada in Edmonton earlier this summer.

Included in the squad are 9 players who competed in the 2025 MLR finals, and five from the championship winning New England Free Jacks: Ben LeSage, Cole Keith, Isaac Olson, Josiah Morra, Kyle Steeves, and Piers Von Dadelszen. Stephen Webb could earn his first cap for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team. Calgary natives, Ben LeSage and Matt Oworu will be making a return to the region for the first match against the United States. “We want to bring this younger generation of Canadian rugby players to another World Cup,” says LeSage.

Tyler Ardron returns to the squad for the first time since he made the last of his 38 appearances in the RWC 2023 qualifier defeat to Chile in 2021. He has represented Castres Olympique in the Top 14 for the past 5 years. His return along with seasoned veteran Evan Olmstead is a strong indication of the team’s intent to secure victory in this pivotal match and their belief in their ability to achieve it.

“We have been very pleased with the effort and commitment shown by the players throughout training camp, continuing the work we began in Edmonton,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Selection for the Pacific Nations Cup was extremely competitive, which is a positive sign of the depth we are developing. As we now turn our focus to the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup against the USA, we understand the importance of the occasion. The players and staff are focused, and we will continue to build throughout these critical matches in Calgary, Japan, and Denver.”

The 2025 Pacific Nations Cup serves as a direct qualification pathway for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the top three teams (minus Fiji and Japan, who have already qualified) earning a berth in the 24-team event. The official World Rugby announcement on the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification process can be found here.

Tickets for the Pacific Nations Cup in Calgary are available for purchase here. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@rugby.ca. For more information on suites, please contact suites@rugby.ca.   
 
Following Friday’s match in Calgary against the United States, the team will then travel to Japan to take on the hosts on Saturday August 30 at 1:00am PT / 4:00am ET / 5:00pm Local. All six Pacific Nations Cup sides (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will convene in Denver, Colorado in September for the play-offs, with the semi-finals and fifth place play-off taking place on September 14 in Denver, and the final and third place play-off taking place on September 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the Rugby World Cup (minus Fiji and Japan, who have already qualified); the last placed team at the conclusion of the tournament will then look to qualify through the South America / Pacific Play-off. 

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’s Men’s Rugby Team vs United States (Pacific Nations Cup) 
Friday August 22, 2025
6:00pm PT / 7:00pm MT / 9:00pm 
TSN3 and TSN+
McMahon Stadium, Calgary 
Buy tickets here 

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team vs Japan (Pacific Nations Cup) 
Saturday August 30, 2025
1:00am PT / 4:00am ET / 5:00pm Local
Yurtec Stadium, Sendai 
TSN4 and TSN+
Buy tickets here

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

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY PACIFIC NATIONS CUP TOURNAMENT TEAM

FORWARDS

Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) -  Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
Cole Keith (Sussex, 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 / Seattle Seawolves
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) - Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, BC) - Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen 
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZ) – Bayside RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) - Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) - Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) - New England Free Jacks
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
Tyler Ardron (Peterborough, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Castres Olympique

BACKS 

Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold  
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) - New England Free Jacks
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds  
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens  
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds  
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC    
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) - Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors 
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) - Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia   
Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia

STAFF 

Stephen Meehan – Head Coach 
Phil Mack – Coach 
Anthony Mathison – Coach 
Richard Andrews – Head Analyst  
James Rees – Head S&C Coach 
Lisa Ruggles – Lead Therapist 
Ben Motum – Assistant Therapist
Dr. Boshoff – Team Doctor  
Neil MacDougall – Manager
Maxine O’Leary – Media Manager