Kévin Rouet joins Canada's men after plotting Red Roses double

Fresh from masterminding back-to-back victories over the Red Roses, Canada women head coach Kévin Rouet has been parachuted into the men’s squad for the second half of the Nations Cup.

Rouet has joined Stephen Meehan’s squad as an assistant coach ahead of fixtures against Georgia, Hong Kong China and Romania.

This month Rouet’s Canada ended the Red Roses’ 41-match unbeaten streak in WXV Global Series with wins in Toronto and Ottawa.

Rouet will join the squad this week for a week-long training camp before resuming their Nations Cup campaign. Canada are currently bottom of their pool after a draw with Spain, loss to Portugal and a win against Zimbabwe.

In recent years, Rouet has established himself as one of rugby’s most respected coaching minds. Rugby Canada chief executive Nathan Bombrys once dubbed him “the Jack Reacher of rugby coaches”, while his methodical approach and ability to maximise Canada’s potential have earned widespread recognition. The Red Roses have experienced that first-hand in recent weeks.

Included in the 36-player squad is Matt Beukeboom, who is the cousin of Canada’s all-time appearance maker Tyson, the SAXV Charente Rugby forward is in line to earn his first cap for nine years this autumn.

The 29-year-old is one of six France-based players included in the squad – five of whom were unavailable for the team’s Pacific Nations Cup campaign in Tokyo, which concluded with a 29-16 win against the USA Men’s Eagles.

Matthew Oworu will join up with the squad shortly after it was announced he will join Pro D2 club Biarritz Olympique. He could earn his first cap in 12 months.

Shortly after he became the first Canadian to secure a Gallagher PREM contract for seven years, Newcastle Red Bulls forward Mason Flesch is named among the forwards.

Stephen Meehan, Canada men’s head coach, said: “This international window is a great opportunity to bring everyone back together including our France-based professionals. To have players like Matt Beukeboom return to the environment is invaluable to the team and our program as we continue building on the progress we made during the Pacific Nations Cup.

“We’ll have plenty to work on as we bring everyone back up to speed, but this tour also provides valuable experience with a six-day turnaround between our final two matches, reflecting the demands we’ll face at Rugby World Cup 2027.

“Availability will vary throughout due to professional, university and personal commitments, so our squad will evolve week to week. Ultimately, it’s a great opportunity to test ourselves against strong opposition and continue climbing the world rankings. I am really looking forward to seeing the team back together.”

Also included in the squad are uncapped backs trio Demetri Patterson, Mitch Voralek and Jack Gore. Patterson debuted for Canada Men’s Sevens at HSBC SVNS 2 earlier this year, Voralek previously turned out for the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby and Gore toured Japan with the squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.

Canada Men Nations Cup squad

Forwards
Tyler Ardron (Lakefield, ON) – Peterborough Pagans / Provence Rugby (40 caps)
Matt Beukeboom (Lindsay, ON) – SAXV Charente Rugby (3 caps)
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Cobras Brasil (4 caps)
Foster DeWitt (Courtenay, BC) – Westshore RFC / Nottingham Rugby (8 caps)
Daragh Doyle (Québec City, QC) – Clontarf FC (5 caps)
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Newcastle Red Bulls (26 caps)
Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, WA) – Eastside Lions RFC / Peñarol Rugby (7 caps)
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / SL Benfica (19caps)
Cole Keith (Sussex NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / CAP Périgueux (47 caps)
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Rotherham Titans (18 caps)
Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC (15 caps)
Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pictou County RFC / James Bay AA (2 caps)
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Blackheath Rugby (10 caps)
Evan Olmstead (North Vancouver, BC) – Lindfield Rugby Club / Nissa Rugby (37 caps)
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Biarritz Olympique (17 caps)
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (21 caps)
Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / US Carcassonne (32 caps)
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RC / Chicago Hounds (70)
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Blackheath Rugby (11 caps)
Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Camborne RFC (5 caps)
Bryce Worden (Sussex, NB) – Burnaby Lake RFC / West Harbour Rugby Club (3 caps)

Backs
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Hawkes Bay Magpies (13 caps)
*Jack Gore (Mississauga, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Wilfrid Laurier University (0 caps)
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution (32 caps)
Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Guelph Gryphons / Young Munster RFC (5 caps)
Liam James (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / UBCOB Ravens (4 caps)
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Nottingham Rugby (19 caps)
Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Barrie RC / Aurora Barbarians (3 caps)
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks (41 caps)
Josh McIndoe (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / UVIC Vikes (2 caps)
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (6 caps)
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Ampthill RUFC (8 caps)
*Demetri Patterson (West Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / Capilano RFC (0 caps)
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Westshore RFC (8 caps)
*Mitch Voralek (Waterloo, ON) – Waterloo County (0 caps)
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto City RC / University of British Columbia (2 caps)
*Denotes potential debut