12 Arrows Named to Rugby Canada’s Squad for Americas 2 World Cup Qualifying

With files from Rugby Canada

Twelve Arrows have again been named to Rugby Canada’s unchanged 30-man roster for the national program’s upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 Qualification Pathway matches against Chile.

Congratulations to scrum-half Ross Braude, lock/flanker Mason Flesch, scrum-half Jason Higgins, centre Spencer Jones, prop Cole Keith, fly-half Will Kelly, centre Ben LeSage, utility back Pat Parfrey, hooker Andrew Quattrin, prop Tyler Rowland, flanker Lucas Rumball, and No. 8 Siaki Vikilani.

Higgins, Flesch and Jones all made their debuts in the last set of qualifiers against the USA with the latter putting in a Man of the Match performance in Canada’s first leg win in Newfoundland and Labrador. They all return to contention to add to their caps for Canada. Braude, Rowland and Vikilani all made their first appearances for Canada in the Canucks’ tour to the United Kingdom in July.

The Arrows organization is also represented on Canada’s coaching staff, with Rob Howley serving as Kingsley Jones’ senior assistant coach and Rodin Lozada involved as the team’s performance analyst.

Via Rugby Canada

September 28, 2021 (Langford, BC) – Head coach Kingsley Jones has named an unchanged 30-man training squad that will face off against Chile in their upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 Qualification Pathway matches.

The winner of the Americas 2 Qualifier is determined by an aggregate score across two games – the first on October 2 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC with the second being played on October 9 in Valparaiso, Chile. The winner will qualify for the Americas 2 Playoff and face the loser of the Americas 1 Playoff (being contested between USA and Uruguay) in July 2022. The loser of the Americas 2 Qualifier will be eliminated from the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway.

Jones said, “We have re-assembled the team and are again putting in great work in the lead-up to these crucial matches. We were obviously disappointed in the outcome of our previous match versus the USA, and I know the players are looking forward to running out at our home stadium and putting in another good shift on Canadian soil.”

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has been training in Langford ahead of their upcoming qualification matches versus Chile.

Regarding the roster Jones added, “We are fortunate to have continuity in the squad from round one. With all of the group being returning selections, I am very pleased with the options we have to set our lineup later this week.”

The first match, powered by DHL Rugby, kicks off at 5pm local time (8pm ET) on October 2. Tickets, starting at only $25 are on-sale now and selling quickly. Main gates will open at 3:30pm PT, but tickets will also be good to gain early access to a ‘curtain raiser’ fixture featuring the Rugby Canada Performance Academy (Pacific Pride) taking on UVIC. This match kicks off at 1:30pm PT – tickets are required for early entry and fans can remain in the stadium between the matches. In accordance with British Columbia Provincial regulations for outside events, fans will be required to show proof of vaccination when entering Starlight Stadium.

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As announced earlier today, the matches will also be shown live in Canada and around the world through Premier Sports. Canadian rugby fans can watch both Americas 2 Qualifier matches via special subscription for $14.95 USD.

The return match will be hosted in Valparaiso, Chile on October 9 with kick-off at 2pm ET/11am PT.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S ROSTER:

• Kyle Baillie – Summerside, PEI – Nola Gold
• Ross Braude – Pretoria, SA – Toronto Arrows
• Cooper Coats – Halifax, NS – Canada Rugby 7’s
• Cole Davis – Calgary, AB – Austin Gilgronis
• Foster DeWitt – Courtney, BC – Pacific Pride
• Mason Flesch – Cobourg, ON – Toronto Arrows
• Matt Heaton – Godmanchester, QC – Rugby ATL
• Jason Higgins – Cork, Ire – Toronto Arrows
• Eric Howard – Ottawa, ON – Nola Gold
• Jake Ilnicki – Williams Lake, BC – Unattached
• Spencer Jones – Cambridge, NZ – Toronto Arrows
• Cole Keith – Apohaqui, NB – Toronto Arrows
• Will Kelly – Ancaster, ON – Toronto Arrows
• Conor Keys – Stittsvile, ON – Rugby ATL
• Lachlan Kratz – Victoria, BC – Nola Gold
• Ben Lesage – Calgary, AB – Toronto Arrows
• Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga, ONT – James Bay AA
• Peter Nelson – Dungannon, UK – Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne
• Quinn Ngawati – Victoria, BC – Rugby United NY
• Patrick Parfrey – St. John’s NFLD – Toronto Arrows/Swilers RFC
• Rob Povey – Long Buckby, ENG – Houston Sabercats
• Andrew Quattrin – Holland Landing – ON – Toronto Arrows
• Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Arrows
• Lucas Rumball – Markham, ON – Toronto Arrows
• Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville, ON – Seattle Seawolves
• Michael Smith – White Rock, BC – San Diego Legion
• Corey Thomas – Perth, Western AUS – LA Giltinis
• Matt Tierney – Oakville, ON – Castres Olympique
• Siaki Vikilani – Burnaby, BC – Toronto Arrows
• Brock Webster – Uxbridge, ON – Canada Rugby 7’s

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Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby XV’s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

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