Four new names in Canada squad for Pacific Nations Cup

Canada have confirmed a squad of 35 players to prepare for the Pacific Nations Cup. The team will play a warm-up match against the Vancouver Highlanders this coming Saturday before playing tests against Japan in Vancouver on August 25 and the USA on August 31. At least one further test will be played with the possibility of two pending results.

Included are four uncapped players and 10 others who debuted in July. Scrumhalf Jesse Kilgour and outside back Rhys James, both of Pacific Pride, were part of last month’s training squad but did not play in the tests against Romania or Scotland. This is the first official call-up to the senior squad for loosehead prop Sam Miller, also of the Pride, and Vancouver Highlanders lock Kaden Duguid.

Also joining the squad after missing out in July are second row trio Josh Larsen, Callum Botchar, and Izzak Kelly, flyhalf Gradyn Bowd, and midfielder Spencer Jones. Kelly is currently based in Australia while the other four play for Major League Rugby sides.

Los Angeles center Seth Purdey is one of five uncapped players invited to train with the group. The others are Wales-based back row Zephyr Melnyk, Pacific Pride center Noah Flesch, and Canada u20 wingers Morgan DiNardo and Spencer Cotie.

Meanwhile veteran prop Djustice Sears-Duru and midfielder Mitch Richardson are named on a standby list that includes 11 names, among them former Chicago Hounds hooker Lindsey Stevens. Uncapped Bridgend flyhalf Jamin Hodgkins is also on standby. Starting lock pair Conor Keys and Kyle Baillie, and No8 Siaki Vikilani are injured or unavailable.

PROP
Cole Keith (New England Free Jacks) 31 caps
Cali Martinez (Old Glory DC) 1 cap
Sam Miller (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Liam Murray (Dallas Jackals) 10 caps
Conor Young (RFC Los Angeles) 7 caps

HOOKER
Dewald Kotze (Dallas Jackals) 1 cap
Jesse Mackail (Pacific Pride) 1 cap
Andrew Quattrin (New England Free Jacks) 22 caps

SECOND ROW
Callum Botchar (NOLA Gold) 1 cap
Kaden Duguid (Vancouver Highlanders) uncapped
Izzak Kelly (Cottesloe, AU) 4 caps
Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks) 21 caps
James Stockwood (Pacific Pride) 2 caps

BACK ROW
Mason Flesch (Chicago Hounds) 8 caps
Ethan Fryer (New England Free Jacks) 1 cap
Matt Klimchuk (Vancouver Highlanders) 1 cap
Matthew Oworu (Canada 7s) 4 caps
Sion Parry (Pontypridd, UK) 4 caps
Lucas Rumball (capt., Chicago Hounds) 53 caps

SCRUMHALF
Brock Gallagher (Dallas Jackals) 2 caps
Jason Higgins (Chicago Hounds) 15 caps
Jesse Kilgour (Pacific Pride) uncapped

FLYHALF
Mark Balaski (Pacific Pride) 1 cap
Gradyn Bowd (Old Glory DC) 10 caps
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) 21 caps

MIDFIELD
Spencer Jones (Utah Warriors) 8 caps
Ben LeSage (New England Free Jacks) 32 caps
Takoda McMullin (Vancouver Highlanders) 2 caps
Talon McMullin (Vancouver Highlanders) 2 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Nic Benn (Dallas Jackals) 2 caps
Cooper Coats (Canada 7s) 12 caps
Andrew Coe (RFC Los Angeles) 20 caps
Rhys James (Pacific Pride) uncapped
Kainoa Lloyd (Associates, AU) 24 caps
Josiah Morra (Canada 7s) 3 caps

TRAINING INVITES
Zephyr Melynk (FL, Beddau, UK) uncapped
Noah Flesch (CE, Pacific Pride) uncapped
Seth Purdey (CE, RFC Los Angeles) uncapped
Spencer Cotie (WI, UVic Vikes) uncapped
Morgan DiNardo (WI, UVic Vikes) uncapped