Captain Lucas Rumball to make history as Canada name side for USA

TOKYO: Captain Lucas Rumball is set to become the fourth-most capped player in Canadian Men’s Rugby history after being named in the side to play the USA Eagles, with the rival teams set to meet in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 third-place playoff.

Canada put 29 points on ninth-ranked Fiji in a semi-final defeat in Tokyo last weekend, but have since turned their focus to a clash with the Eagles. The Canadians won the last match between the sides, which was played about 13 months ago.

Coach Stephen Meehan has made some key changes for the Test in Tokyo, with openside flanker Sion Parry unavailable due to injury. Ethan Fryer comes into the run-on side, set to start in the iconic red jersey for the first time since returning from a long injury layoff.

Foster DeWitt returns to the run-on side at hooker, Jesse Kilgour has been brought into the XV at scrum-half, and Cooper Coats will start at fly-half. Spencer Jones wore the No. 10 jersey against Fiji, but the New Zealand-raised utility shifts to the bench.

Rumball is joined in the loose forwards by Fryer and Mason Flesch, who last weekend scored two tries against the Flying Fijians. Darah Doyle and Izzak Kelly start as the two locks, with Sam Miller packing down alongside DeWitt and Kyle Steeves up front.

In the backs, Kilgour and Coats will look to provide quality ball to an exciting backline, which includes 41-Test veteran Ben LeSage at inside centre once again. LeSage will link up with Jacob Ince as the starting centre pairing for the second match in a row.

Jamie Armstrong and Kyle Tremblay are the wingers, while University of British Columbia product Takoda McMullin has been retained at fullback. On the bench, the No. 23 jersey is still to be confirmed.

Canada team to take on USA Eagles

1. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Benfica SL (9 caps)

2. Foster DeWitt (Courtenay, BC) – Westshore RFC / Peñarol Rugby (7 caps)

3. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Hunter Wildfires (10 caps)

4. Daragh Doyle (Québec City, QC) –?Clontarf FC (4 caps)

5. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / SL Benfica (18 caps)

6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (25 caps)

7. Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, WA) – Eastside Lions RFC / PeñarolRugby (6 caps)

8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach Rugby Club / Chicago Hounds (69 caps)

9. Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Barrie RC / Aurora Barbarians (2 caps)

10. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / UVIC Vikes (24 caps)

11. Jamie Armstrong (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish?(2 caps)

12. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks (41 caps)

13. Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Guelph Gryphons / Taranaki Rugby (4 caps)

14. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC (9 caps)

15. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (9 caps)

Replacements

16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Rotherham Titans (17 caps)

17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC (9 caps)

18. Bryce Worden (Sussex, NB) – Burnaby Lake RFC / West Harbour Rugby Club (2 caps)

19. Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Camborne RFC (4 caps)

20. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, Ontario) – University of British Columbia (3 caps)

21. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto City RC / University of British Columbia (4 caps)

22. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys (19 caps)

23. TBC