10 Arrows Named to Canada’s Roster for Portugal Clash

With files from Rugby Canada

Ten Arrows have been selected to Canada’s matchday squad to face Portugal in Lisbon this Saturday.

Eight Arrows will start for Canada: lock Kyle Baillie, scrum-half Ross Braude, fly-half Spencer Jones, prop Cole Keith, centre Ben LeSage, hooker Andrew Quattrin, flanker Lucas Rumball, and No. 8 Siaki Vikilani.

Scrum-half Jason Higgins and prop Tyler Rowland have been named to Canada’s reserves.

Arrows co-captain Rumball will reprise his role as the Canucks’ captain.

Via Rugby Canada

November 4, 2021 (Lisbon, PT) – Head coach Kingsley Jones has announced Canada’s National Senior Men’s 15s roster ahead of the team’s upcoming November 6 fixture versus No. 19-ranked Portugal, 11:00am ET/8:00am PT at CAR Rugby Do Jamor, Lisbon. The match is presented by DHL Rugby.

It’s a fresh start for Canada, who have shifted focus from World Cup qualification to increased competition and minutes for a number of players following an extended period of downtime brought on as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Portugal and Canada have played four prior test matches, although the sides haven’t met since 2013. Portugal has seen positive results of late, defeating Spain and Brazil over the past year while also having a successful run in the European Nations Cup.

“Portugal look like favourites to finish as the team that goes to the World Cup from the European Nations Cup, so it’s a big challenge,” said Jones. “I want to see our players continue their learning, particularly defensively—that is an area we need to get better at. There are lots of good things, our set pieces have been excellent, I want to see that continue to grow and I want to see players excited to play and bounce back from a disappointing result last time out.”

Jones’ lineup features a familiar group from the team’s most recent October matches, but with players such as Cole Keith, Michael Smith and Quinn Ngawati shifting to starting roles. The line-up also features a Canadian debut at flyhalf for Spencer Jones with Peter Nelson taking the #15 fullback role. Isaac Olson could earn his first Canadian cap as a reserve for the match.

Saturday’s match versus Portugal is being produced locally and will be streamed live on the union’s internal channel,  www.rugbytv.pt. The broadcast will feature Portuguese commentary, requires no subscription and is available to watch free of charge for viewers in Canada.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S MATCH DAY ROSTER

Forwards:
1. Cole Keith – Sussex, NB – Toronto Arrows
2. Andrew Quattrin – Holland Landing, ON – Toronto Arrows
3. Jake Ilnicki – Williams Lake, BC – Old Glory DC
4. Conor Keys – Stittsville, ON – Rugby ATL
5. Kyle Baillie – Summerside, PEI – Toronto Arrows
6. Lucas Rumball – Scarborough, ON – Toronto Arrows (C)
7. Michael Smith – White Rock, BC – San Diego Legion
8. Siaki Vikilani – Burnaby, BC – Toronto Arrows

Backs:
9. Ross Braude – Pretoria, SA – Toronto Arrows
10. Spencer Jones – Cambridge, NZ – Toronto Arrows
11. Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga, ON – James Bay AA
12. Quinn Ngawati – Victoria, BC – Rugby United New York
13. Ben LeSage – Calgary, AB – Toronto Arrows
14. Brock Webster – Uxbridge, ON – Canada Men’s 7s
15. Peter Nelson – Dungannon, UK – Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne

Reserves:
16. Eric Howard – Edmonton, AB – NOLA Gold
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville, ON – Unattached
18. Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Arrows
19. Corey Thomas – Perth, Western AUS – LA Giltinis
20. Josh Larsen – Parksville, BC – New England Free Jacks
21. Rob Povey – Calgary, AB – Houston SaberCats
22. Jason Higgins – Cork, IRE – Toronto Arrows
23. Isaac Olson – Vernon, BC – Canada Men’s 7s

ABOUT RUGBY CANADA
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 15s 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.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, residing on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Te’mexw Treaty Association, and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.

Header Photo Credit: Jeff Parsons