Vikilani Added to Rugby Canada’s Roster for July UK Tour

With files from Rugby Canada

Arrows loose forward Siaki Vikilani has been added to Canada’s roster for the national program’s July tour to Wales and England.

Vikilani joins eight Arrows teammates for the tour: scrum-half Ross Braude, prop Cole Keith, fly-half Will Kelly, centre Ben LeSage, utility back Pat Parfrey, hooker Andrew Quattrin, prop Tyler Rowland, and flanker Lucas Rumball.

Centre Spencer Jones was also originally named to Canada’s touring roster, but has been forced to withdraw due to injury.

Vikilani, along with Braude and Rowland, are all in contention for their first caps for Canada.

Arrows club captains LeSage and Rumball have both been designated as captains of Canada’s touring roster.

Canada’s senior men’s team, which last played in October 2019 at the World Cup in Japan, will return to action against No. 6 Wales on July 3 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff and No. 3 England on July 10 at Twickenham.

Via Rugby Canada

June 29, 2021 (Langford, BC) – Head coach Kingsley Jones has named an updated 32-man squad that has travelled to the UK for two test matches against Wales and England.

Two players originally named to the team, Matt Heaton and Spencer Jones, have been forced to withdraw due to injury. Coming into the side are Donald Carson and Cooper Coats. These players join Siaki Vikilani and Corey Thomas, who were additional selections from the originally named 30-man roster. In addition, assistant coach Phil Mack will be joining the squad on Wednesday following the birth of his child. Phil will work alongside Senior Assistant Coach Rob Howley and forwards coach Jamie Cudmore.

Canada will first play Wales on July 3rd at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.  The following week on July 10th Canada will face England at Twickenham Stadium in London. Jones will use these games against two of the world’s top sides as preparation for upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification matches this Fall.

Working in conjunction with the WRU and RFU, Rugby Canada is pleased to confirm that both UK Tour matches will be broadcast live in Canada on DAZN. Canadian rugby fans can visit DAZN.com or click here for more information on how to watch Canada’s UK Tour presented by DHL and other 2021 Summer Internationals.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S 32 PLAYER TRAVELLING ROSTER:

Forwards:

Lucas Albornoz – Burnaby, BC – Houston SaberCats
Donald Carson – Delta, BC – University of British Columbia
Foster Dewitt – Courtenay, BC – RC National Development Academy
Eric Howard – Ottawa, ON – NOLA Gold
Jake Ilnicki – Williams Lake, BC – Seattle Seawolves
Cole Keith – Sussex, NB – Toronto Arrows
Conor Keys – Stittsville, ON – Rugby ATL
Josh Larsen – Parksville, BC – New England Free Jacks
Liam Murray – Langley, BC – Houston SaberCats
Reegan O’Gorman – Vancouver, BC – Austin Gilgronis
Andrew Quattrin – Holland Landing, ON – Toronto Arrows
Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Arrows
Lucas Rumball – Scarborough, ON – Toronto Arrows
Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville, ON – Seattle Seawolves
Michael Smith – White Rock, BC – San Diego Legion
Corey Thomas – Perth, AU – LA Giltinis
Siaki Vikilani – Vancouver, BC – Toronto Arrows

Backs:

Ross Braude – Pretoria, SA – Toronto Arrows
Cooper Coats – Halifax, NS – Canada Men’s 7s Team
Cole Davis – Calgary, AB – Austin Gilgronis
Doug Fraser – Ladysmith, BC – Old Glory DC
Fraser Hurst – Vancouver, BC – Utah Warriors
Will Kelly – Ancaster, ON – Toronto Arrows
Lachlan Kratz – Victoria, BC – NOLA Gold
Benjamin LeSage – Calgary, AB – Toronto Arrows
Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga, ON – RC National Development Academy
Peter Nelson – Dungannon, UK – Mont de Mason
Quinn Ngawati – Victoria, BC – Rugby United New York
Patrick Parfrey – St. John’s, NL – Toronto Arrows
Will Percillier – Victoria, BC – Stade Francais
Robbie Povey – Calgary, AB – Houston SaberCats
Isaac Olsen – Victoria, BC – RC National Development Academy

Header Photo Credit: Neil MacDougall