Lucas Rumball will captain a 32-man roster, which includes four uncapped players, for Canada's rugby tour to Romania next month.
The 22nd-ranked Canadians face No. 21 Chile on Nov. 9 and No. 20 Romania on Nov. 16, with both games in Bucharest, in their final international test matches of the year.
Twenty-five players return from Pacific Nations Cup play, which saw Canada losses to Japan (55-28), the United States (28-15) and Tonga (30-17) in August and September.
The Canadian men split their two earlier test matches in July in Ottawa, beating Romania 35-22 and losing 73-12 to No. 7 Scotland.
"We have an opportunity this fall to continue to test ourselves and build as a group, facing two quality opponents,” Canada coach Kingsley Jones said in a statement. “As with our squads that competed in Ottawa and at the Pacific Nations Cup, our aim is to develop our depth and have consistency going in 2025. In addition to the experienced leadership on our squad, there are a number of young promising players who will gain more valuable exposure to an international training and competition environment.”
The tour roster includes the uncapped Jesse Kilgour, Noah Flesch, Rhys James and Sam Miller, who all trained with Canada before the Pacific Nations Cup. Kilgour, Flesch and James are part of Rugby Canada's Pacific Pride academy while Miller is a graduate of the program.
The tour squad also features Kaden Duguid and Tyler Matchem, who earned their first caps against Japan and Tonga.
Jones is building towards the start of World Cup qualification in 2025. The Canadian men failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup for the first time after losing two-legged qualifying series with the 19th-ranked U.S. (59-50 on aggregate) and Chile (56-54 on aggregate) in September and October 2021.
Several veterans are back in the fold.
RFC LA backrower Matt Heaton returns for the first time since 2021, with Josh Thiel back for the first time since Canada’s 2023 fall tour to Spain. Mitch Richardson, who missed the Pacific Nations Cup due to injury, also returns.
Matthew Klimchuk (Meiji University, Japan) and twins Talon and Takoda McMullin (UBC) are unavailable due to university commitments. The Canadian tour clashes with the Canadian University men’s rugby championship, scheduled for Nov. 13-17 in Ottawa.
The tour roster includes 12 players from Major League Rugby clubs.
Canada Tour Roster
Forwards
Andrew Quattrin, Holland Landing, Ont., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Calixto Martinez, White Rock, B.C., Old Glory DC (MLR); Callum Botchar, Vancouver, NOLA Gold (MLR); Cole Keith, Apohaqui, N.B., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Conor Young, Yamba, Australia, RFC LA (MLR); Dewald Kotze, Edmonton, Strathcona Druids RFC; Ethan Fryer, Seattle, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Izzak Kelly, White Rock, B.C., Capilano RFC; James Stockwood, Bowmanville, Ont., Pacific Pride; Jesse Mackail, Palmerston North, New Zealand, Pacific Pride; Kaden Duguid, Edmonton, Vancouver Highlanders; Lucas Rumball (capt.), Toronto, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Mason Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Matt Heaton, Godmanchester, Que., RFC LA (MLR); Matthew Oworu, Calgary, Pacific Pride; Sam Miller, Mount Denson, N.S., Pacific Pride; Siôn Parry, Cardiff, Wales, Ebbw Vale RFC (Wales); Tyler Matchem, Pictou County, N.S., Pictou County RFC.
Backs
Andrew Coe, Markham, Ont., RFC LA (MLR); Ben LeSage, Calgary, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Brock Gallagher, Edmonton, Strathcona Druids RFC; Cooper Coats, Halifax, Halifax Tars; Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Jesse Kilgour, Barrie, Ont., Pacific Pride; Josh Thiel, Victoria, Abbotsford RFC; Josiah Morra, Toronto, Toronto Saracens; Mark Balaski, Castlebar, Ireland, Pacific Pride; Mitch Richardson, Stoney Creek, Ont., McMaster University; Nic Benn, Caves Beach, Australia, unaffiliated; Noah Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Pacific Pride; Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Dungannon RFC; Rhys James, Kelowna, B.C., Pacific Pride.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
