Canada Finish Fourth in Pacific Nations Cup After Fierce Battle with Tonga

Canada Finish Fourth in Pacific Nations Cup After Fierce Battle with Tonga

Saturday, September 20, 2025 (Salt Lake City, UT) – Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team closed out their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 35–24 defeat to Tonga in the third-place play-off at America First Field in Utah.

With both nations having already secured qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup earlier in the tournament, Saturday’s contest was about pride, ranking points, and closing the competition on a high note.

Tonga Start Fast, Canada Responds

Tonga were quickest out of the blocks, striking in the 11th minute through flanker Tupou Afungia, who pushed over the whitewash off the back of a powerful maul. Patrick Pellegrini added the extras, and the fly-half then extended Tonga’s advantage with a converted try of his own just after the half-hour mark, taking the score to 14–0.

Down but not out, Canada worked hard to establish territory, with Matthew Oworu carrying strongly and the pack forcing a couple of penalties to build momentum. Their persistence paid off just before the interval.

After a series of close-range phases, Oworu powered across from short distance to open Canada’s account just before the halftime whistle. Peter Nelson’s conversion brought the Canadians right back into the contest, trailing 14–7 at the break.

Gallagher and Nelson Spark Canada

Canada’s response carried into the second half. Scrum-half Brock Gallagher lit up the stadium with a solo try, stepping out of tackles and fending off the cover to level the score at 14–14. The momentum continued to swing Canada’s way as they applied sustained pressure for long spells ahead of the hour-mark, but Tonga hit back through prop Siegfried Fisi'ihoi and a second try for Pellegrini.

Peter Nelson kept the Canadians in touch with a penalty goal before finishing off a flowing move in the corner for a converted try that narrowed the gap to 28–24 with 10 minutes to play. However, Tonga regained control late as Pellegrini completed his hat-trick, and their defence held firm through the closing minutes to secure third place.

Oworu once again provided go-forward in the pack, Gallagher showed his attacking spark, and Nelson contributed 14 points with the boot and ball in hand.

The evening was also a memorable one for two young Canadians, as winger Jack Shaw and substitute hooker Austin Creighton made their senior test debuts in national colours.

From the Captain and Coach

“We can be proud of where we finished this year compared to last year,” said captain Mason Flesch. Canada finished the 2024 tournament in sixth place. “We were really in this game, especially in the first 40 minutes, but we backed up into our own end [in the second half], and we shot ourselves in the foot. We’re disappointed.”

Reflecting on Canada’s Pacific Nations Cup campaign as a whole: “I think the entire competition is really starting to grow. It’s become a lot more competitive across all the teams. For nations like ourselves and USA, getting to play against the likes of Japan, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, who are putting together some good squads year-in and year-out, is really good for us. The competition is just getting better.”

Head Coach Stephen Meehan credited his squad’s effort while pointing to areas for growth: “Any scoreline that goes against you can be difficult to take, but we were really happy with the way they came out and showed some character. We tried to play a bit of rugby under these circumstances and against a pretty good defensive effort.”

“I think at times we’ve been really happy with our performances, and there’s times when we’ve let ourselves down through execution or being a little bit slow to support one another,” added Meehan, while looking at Canada’s body of work at the 2025 PNC. “We’ll just keep working on things, hopefully keep the mood in the camp nice and positive, and we’ll go forward from here.”

More information on the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.

CANADA SCORING SUMMARY  
Tries: Matthew Oworu (39’), Brock Gallagher (45’), Peter Nelson (68’)
Conversions: Peter Nelson (3)
Penalty Goals: Peter Nelson (60’)

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER VS TONGA

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.  Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
6.  Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
7.  Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
8.  Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
9.   Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) - Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
10.  Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC   
11.  Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens  
12.  Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) - Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
13.  Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia
14.  Jack Shaw (Oakville, ON) – RFC LA / Castaway Wanderers
15.  Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
 
FINISHERS

16. Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) - Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA
17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) - Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
18. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) - Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA / NOLA Gold
20. Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) -  Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
21. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds 
22. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds 
23. Shane O’Leary (Cork, IRE) - Ballina Killaloe RFC / Miami Sharks