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MATCH DAY ROSTER NAMED FOR CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM VERSUS THE UNITED STATES IN CALGARY

Rugby 15s Senior Men

The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup against the United States in Calgary has been named by Head Coach Stephen Meehan.  

MATCH DAY ROSTER NAMED FOR CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM VERSUS THE UNITED STATES IN CALGARY

Canada and the United States will kick off at 6:00pm PT / 7:00pm MT / 9:00pm ET on Friday August 22 at McMahon Stadium for their first match of the Pacific Nations Cup, an annual tournament contested between Canada, Japan, the United States, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, and serving as a direct qualification pathway for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.  

Stephen Webb will look to earn his first cap for Canada. Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Webb is entering his third year at the University of British Columbia where he plays for the UBC Thunderbirds. Stephen’s late father Bill Webb was the co-founder of the Toronto Arrows, Canada’s first and only professional rugby union team. 

Dewald Kotze, has earned his first start for Canada. The 28-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta will look to continue his good form after another year in the MLR playing for the Seattle Seawolves. Kotze played 16 matches and scored 15 points for the West Coast side. 

Making their return to the match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team for the first time since the 2024 Cernavoda Cup in Romania are Nic Benn and Jesse Mackail. Nic is back on home soil after spending the season in the MLR with the Utah Warriors, while Mackail spent the 2024-25 season with the Seattle Seawolves.   

Tyler Ardron returns to the match day roster 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. 

“The effort and understanding the team has shown in training has been very good,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “Competition for starting XV and reserves was high and this demonstrates the depth we’re building. It’s now time to execute what we’ve practiced. This begins on Friday evening in the Pacific Nations Cup with a strong performance against the USA.” 

This match will mark the first time Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has played at McMahon Stadium since 2017 when they faced Georgia, and the second time Canada and the United States have met in the past two years.12 players including Captain Lucas Rumball, Calixto Martinez, Mason Flesch, Jason Higgins, Peter Nelson, Nic Benn, Talon McMullin, Ben LeSage, Dewald Kotze, Cole Keith, Matthew Oworu, and Cooper Coats were part of the team that faced the United States in 2024 where the Canadians fell 28-15 to their North American rivals. 

Tickets for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team against the United States on August 22 at 7:00pm MT at McMahon Stadium are available here. 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 UNITED STATES  

  1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) -  Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC 
  2. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves 
  3. Cole Keith (Sussex, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks 
  4. Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) - New England Free Jacks 
  5. Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, BC) - Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen  
  6. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds 
  7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds 
  8. Tyler Ardron (Peterborough, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Castres Olympique 
  9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds   
  10. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold   
  11. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens   
  12. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks 
  13. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds   
  14. Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) - New England Free Jacks 
  15. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC     

FINISHERS 

  16. Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZ) – Bayside RFC / Seattle Seawolves 
  17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) - Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors 
  18. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) - Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks 
  19. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds 
  20. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC 
  21. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) - Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia    
  22. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) - Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors  
  23. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors 
 

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