Four Changes Made to Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s 28-Player Tournament Team Ahead of Second Pacific Nations Cup Match vs Japan

Four Changes Made to Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s 28-Player Tournament Team Ahead of Second Pacific Nations Cup Match vs Japan

Canada kicks off their second match of the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday August 30 at 1:00am PT / 4:00am ET / 5:00pm Local, taking on the world number 13th ranked Japan at Yurtec Stadium, Sendai. Tickets are available for purchase here and the match will be available on TSN4 and TSN+.

The Pacific Nations Cup 28-Player Tournament Team sees four changes from the previous match week where the Canadians defeated the United States 34-20, with Shane O’Leary, Callum Botchar, Austin Creighton, and Brock Gallagher replacing Cooper Coats, Evan Olmstead, Tyler Ardron, and Talon McMullin.

Both Evan Olmstead and Tyler Ardron have returned to their clubs in France to fulfill ongoing professional commitments.

Head Coach Stephen Meehan remains confident in the depth of the squad as Canada looks to continue building over the course of the tournament.

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team made a resounding statement in the opening round of the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, defeating the now 18th-ranked United States 34–20 in front of 11,587 fans at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium on August 22.

The victory gives 24th-ranked Canada their first win over their longtime rivals since 2021 and gives the team well-earned momentum heading into their match against the Japanese.

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.

Following Canada’s match against Japan, 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. 

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM SCHEDULE  

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 result of Canada’s match against Japan.

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

FORWARDS

Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) - Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA
Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) -  Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA / NOLA Gold
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
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

BACKS 

Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph
Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) - Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
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    
Shane O’Leary (Cork, IRE) - Ballina Killaloe RFC / Miami Sharks 
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) - Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors 
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) - Balmy Beach RFC / 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