Steve Meehan has trimmed his Canadian Senior Men’s squad ahead of next month’s tests against Belgium and Spain in Edmonton. The original group of 59 identified two weeks ago has been reduced to 42, with 19 players dropping off and two players added. Canada will take on the Blacks Devils on July 12 and the Leones on July 18, both at Clarke Stadium.
NOLA Gold lock Kaden Duguid is recalled to the training squad, while there is a first call for Luke Toroca. The 6’2″ (1.88m) Fijian qualifies on residency and has previously represented Canada in rugby league, having played professionally for the Toronto Wolfpack. Toroca, who turns 31 next month, is currently attached to Langley Rugby Club and has played both in the backs and as a loose forward.
Notably absent from squad are 2019 World Cup participants Andrew Coe and Shane O’Leary, as well as Australia-based duo Sam Miller and Mark Balaski. It’s not immediately clear if they are injured or unavailable. The absence of both O’Leary and Balaski suggests that Peter Nelson will again be relied on to wear the No10 shirt, with uncapped Ethan Turner the only other specialist flyhalf included.
Meehan will assume the lead on attack in his first matches as Head Coach following the departure of Kingsley Jones. He will be assisted by former Canadian international Phil Mack, in charge of defense, and ex-Queensland Reds prop Anthony Mathison, who will focus on restarts and the breakdown.
Seven members of the New England Free Jacks are on the list and will join the training squad following this weekend’s Major League Rugby final opposite the Houston SaberCats in Rhode Island. Rugby Canada says that the final list of 32 players for the two tests will be named in early July.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Cali Martinez (Old Glory DC) 6 caps
Griffin Phillipson (City of Armagh, UK) uncapped
Emerson Prior (Utah Warriors) uncapped
HOOKER
Austin Creighton (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Foster DeWitt (New England Free Jacks) 5 caps
Dewald Kotze (Seattle Seawolves) 4 caps
Andrew Quattrin (New England Free Jacks) 27 caps
Jeffrey Young (Pontypridd, UK) uncapped
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Caleb Ashworth (Harlequins, UK) uncapped
Cole Keith (New England Free Jacks) 35 caps
Tyler Matchem (NOLA Gold) 2 caps
Kyle Steeves (New England Free Jacks) 1 cap
SECOND ROW
Callum Botchar (NOLA Gold) 4 caps
Don Carson (UBCOB Ravens) 2 caps
Kaden Duguid (NOLA Gold) 4 caps
Izzak Kelly (Capilano) 7 caps
Evan Olmstead (Agen, FR) 33 caps
James Stockwood (Pacific Pride) 5 caps
BACK ROW
Mason Flesch (Chicago Hounds) 13 caps
Matt Heaton (RFC Los Angeles) 33 caps
Karl Hunger (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Matthew Oworu (Chicago Hounds) 8 caps
Sion Parry (Ebbw Vale, UK) 7 caps
Lucas Rumball (Chicago Hounds) 58 caps
Piers von Dadelszen (New England Free Jacks) 4 caps
SCRUMHALF
Brock Gallagher (Seattle Seawolves) 6 caps
Jason Higgins (Chicago Hounds) 19 caps
Stephen Webb (UBC Thunderbirds) uncapped
FLYHALF
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) 26 caps
Ethan Turner (Burnaby Lake) uncapped
MIDFIELD
Noah Flesch (Chicago Hounds) 2 caps
Ben LeSage (New England Free Jacks) 37 caps
Maddox MacLean (Souths, AU) uncapped
Josh McIndoe (Greerton Marist, NZ) uncapped
Talon McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds) 5 caps
Kyle Tremblay (Pacific Pride) uncapped
OUTSIDE BACKS
Jamie Armstrong (Canada Sevens) uncapped
Nic Benn (Utah Warriors) 6 caps
Cooper Coats (NOLA Gold) 17 caps
Morgan Di Nardo (UVic Vikes) uncapped
Isaac Olson (New England Free Jacks) 4 caps
Luke Toroca (Langley RC) uncapped
The post Canada trims Men’s squad for Edmonton training camp appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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