Seven Arrows Named to Canada Squad for July Fixtures

With files from Rugby Canada

Seven Arrows have been named to Rugby Canada’s 30-man squad set to compete in a pair of Canada-based fixtures this July.

Congratulations to scrum-half Ross Braude, prop Cole Keith, hooker Jack McRogers, hooker Andrew Quattrin, prop Tyler Rowland, flanker Lucas Rumball, and wing Brock Webster on their selection to the national side.

Of those selected to Head Coach Kingsley Jones’ squad, it’s notably the first international call-up for 23-year-old McRogers, who has featured in 32 matches for the Arrows across his four seasons with the club.

Rumball has been handed captaincy duties for the two-match series, with the Arrows vice captain once again extending his leadership role to the national side.

Four additional Arrows – lock / flanker Kyle Baillie, utility forward Mason Flesch, centre Spencer Jones, and No. 8 Siaki Vikilani – were unavailable for selection due to injury.

Canada will square off against Belgium at Wanderers Grounds in Halifax on July 2 before taking on Spain at TD Place in Ottawa on July 10.

Via Rugby Canada

June 14, 2022 (Langford, BC) – As summer fixtures, presented by DHL, against Belgium and Spain draw nearer, Canada’s Senior Men’s 15s Head Coach Kingsley Jones has named his 30-man squad for the double header.

Canada host Belgium at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, NS on Saturday, July 2 followed by Spain at TD Place in Ottawa, ON – marking the first time a senior international test match has been played at the venue – on Sunday, July 10.

Click here to purchase tickets for the match against Belgium in Halifax and here for the game against Spain in Ottawa.

Jones’ squad includes several crossover athletes from Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens program with Cooper Coats, Matthew Oworu and Brock Webster all receiving callups having featured on the HSBC Sevens Series this season.

Following the inaugural Coast to Coast Cup, which provided Jones the chance to scout national talent, standout performers Gradyn Bowd, Callum Botcher and Dawson Fatoric have been rewarded with a place in the squad. Meanwhile, Jack McRogers – who was noticed thanks to his exploits with Major League Rugby’s Toronto Arrows – is part of his first senior national squad. Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage will act as team captains.

“These test matches against Belgium and Spain provide us with the perfect opportunity to get game time with the carrot of important world rankings points being on the line,” commented Jones. “The squad is looking forward to playing in front of home crowds in Halifax and Ottawa, which we are sure will be loud and proud.”

He added: “We are missing some players through injury. However, it’s important we find balance and this is a chance to bring some young players into the fold, especially as we build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification process. We know what we can get from our senior players, so it’s great to provide a platform to some up-and-comers who have really earned their opportunity.”

CANADA’S SENIOR MEN’S 15s SQUAD FOR TEST MATCHES VERSUS BELGIUM AND SPAIN

Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) – Castaway Wanderers
Callum Botcher (Vancouver, BC) – UBC
Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) – Toronto Arrows
Luke Campbell (Victoria, BC) – Old Glory DC
Donald Carson (Delta, BC) – UBC
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars
Dawson Fatoric (Ottawa, ON) – Pacific Pride
Doug Fraser (Ladysmith, BC) – Old Glory DC
Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) – San Diego Legion
Jake Ilnicki (Williams Lake, BC) – Old Glory DC
Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Toronto Arrows
Conor Keys (Stittsville, ON) – Rugby Atlanta
Josh Larsen (Nanaimo, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – LA Giltinis
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) – San Diego Legion
Jack McRogers (Newmarket, ON) – Toronto Arrows
Liam Murray (Langley, BC) – Dallas Jackals
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) – Aurillac
Quinn Ngawati (Victoria, BC) – Rugby United New York
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – New England Free Jacks
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
Robert Povey (Oxford, UK) – Houston Sabercats
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Toronto Arrows
Tyler Rowland (Mississauga, ON) – Toronto Arrows
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Toronto Arrows
Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) – LA Giltinis
Michael Smith (White Rock, BC) – San Diego Legion
Lindsey Stevens (Sydney, Australia) – LA Giltinis
Corey Thomas (Broome, Australia) – LA Giltinis
Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) – Oshawa Vikings / Toronto Arrows

INJURED OR UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Foster Dewitt
Eric Howard
Kyle Baillie
Matt Beukeboom
Mason Flesch
Matt Heaton
Nakai Penny
Tyler Ardron
Siaki Vikilani
Shane O’Leary
Brennig Prevost
Spencer Jones
David Richard
D’Shawn Bowen
Matt Tierney
Andrew Coe
Jake Thiel
Phil Berna
Lachlan Kratz
Alex Russell

CANADA’S SENIOR MEN’S 15s SUMMER FIXTURE SCHEDULE

July 2: Canada vs. Belgium – Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, NS (Kick-off 4:00 p.m. ADT)
July 10: Canada vs. Spain – TD Place, Ottawa, ON (Kick-off 4:00 p.m. ET)

Header Photo Credit: Kyle Gilmor