Canada Squad Announced

Ardron on the fly Vs Maori

Rugby Canada announced today the squad of twenty six players for final selection for the NZ Maori game in Toronto next weekend.  The squad is as follows;

Tyler Ardron, (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Connor Braid, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Hubert Buydens, (Saskatoon Wild Oats/Manawatu Turbos) Saskatoon, SK
Aaron Carpenter, Captain, (Cornish Pirates) Brantford, ON
Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
Matt Evans, (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC
Aaron Flagg, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Kyle Gilmour, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) Edmonton, AB
Jeff Hassler, (Ospreys/Prairie Wolf Pack) Okotoks, AB
Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL
Jake Illnicki, (Williams Lake Rustlers/Auckland Colts) Williams Lake, BC
Harry Jones, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) West Vancouver, BC
Adam Kleeberger, (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) White Rock, BC
Phil Mack, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Jamie Mackenzie, (UVIC Vikes/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Ryan March, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
John Moonlight, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Pat Parfrey, (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
Jon Phelan, (Lille Métropole Rugby/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
Mike Scholz, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Andrew Tiedemann, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Conor Trainor, (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Liam Underwood, (Queens University/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON

This is a considerably "beefed up" group from that which was available for selection for the recent ARC Tourney.  Some players from overseas appear to have been released but obviously, where there are clubs in contention, ownership and management require others to continue playing.  It is interesting to see just one "specialist hooker", although there are a couple of others of the FRF who could play the position and for this writer, it is extremely disappointng to see the omission of Joe Dolesau, who played some "stormer" minutes in the ARC's.  It is always good to see Carpenter at the helm and the loosies look very strong.  Whether a mere "week of work" will gel whatever #9/10 combo the coach has in mind, remains to be seen.  Hearn and Co. in the backs will provide a stronger prong of attack.  In all, looks good on paper....Go, Canada, go!