Canada will retain 33 men in their squad to prepare for the upcoming tests against Belgium and Spain in Edmonton. Steve Meehan has whittled has way down from 59 in the initial squad with a mix of established professionals and lesser-knowns set to wear the Maple Leafs in the coming weeks.
Brenden Black is called up after being omitted from both the 59- and 42-man rosters. The 21-year-old flyhalf or fullback was at one time the youngest player in Major League Rugby history after debuting with the Toronto Arrows in 2023 at the age of 18. Meanwhile there is a recall for Josiah Morra, the New England Free Jacks winger who was named in the longlist but not the shortened training group.
Along with Black, potential new caps include Utah prop Emerson Prior, Pacific Pride hooker Austin Creighton, UBC and Canada u20 scrumhalf Stephen Webb, Canada Sevens backs Kyle Tremblay and Jamie Armstrong, and 20-year-old Australian utility back Maddox MacLean. The latter has represented the Queensland Reds academy side up to u19 level.
Lucas Rumball captains the squad and could win his 60th cap before the end of the month. He is among 21 players who ply their trade in Major League Rugby. Agen lock Evan Olmstead, Ebbw Vale flanker Sion Parry, and Dungannon flyhalf Peter Nelson join MacLean as the only overseas-based inclusions.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Cali Martinez (Old Glory DC) 6 caps
Emerson Prior (Utah Warriors) uncapped
Foster DeWitt (New England Free Jacks) 5 caps
HOOKER
Austin Creighton (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Dewald Kotze (Seattle Seawolves) 4 caps
Andrew Quattrin (New England Free Jacks) 27 caps
TIGHTHEAD PROP
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
Izzak Kelly (Capilano) 7 caps
Evan Olmstead (Agen, FR) 33 caps
BACK ROW
Mason Flesch (Chicago Hounds) 13 caps
Matt Heaton (RFC Los Angeles) 33 caps
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
Brenden Black (Canada Sevens) uncapped
Maddox MacLean (Souths, AU) uncapped
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) 26 caps
MIDFIELD
Noah Flesch (Chicago Hounds) 2 caps
Ben LeSage (New England Free Jacks) 37 caps
Talon McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds) 5 caps
Kyle Tremblay (Pacific Pride) uncapped
OUTSIDE BACKS
Jamie Armstrong (Canada Sevens) uncapped
Cooper Coats (NOLA Gold) 17 caps
Josiah Morra (New England Free Jacks) 5 caps
Isaac Olson (New England Free Jacks) 4 caps
The post Canada names final Men’s squad for Edmonton tests appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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