New Zealand-raised duo included in Canada squad for Nations Cup clash

Canada head coach Stephen Meehan has named his 23-man squad to open their November Nations Cup window against 13th-ranked Georgia at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia.

70-cap Chicago Hounds loose-forward Lucas Rumbell will captain the side, alongside vice-captain Ben LeSage in the No.12 jersey.

There are two Kiwi connections in the strong squad named to take on Georgia, with New Zealand-raised first-five Spencer Jones, who’s predominantly a midfielder, starting in the No.10 jumper. Hawke’s Bay Magpies junior Nic Benn is named to start on the left wing, in his 14th cap for Canada, the first since 2025.

“It’s funny because obviously going through the age-grade stuff in New Zealand, you get a sniff, and you’re like really keen. But then I think it just became a lot at that time for me, so I thought I’ll take a year off and then come back and give it another crack,” Jones told RugbyPass earlier this month in Osaka.

Meehan has very few experienced players to call upon off the bench, with replacement loose-forward Siôn Parry’s 21 appearances the most on the interchanges.

Meehan, who has been in charge of Canada since early 2025, said that this weekend’s challenge will be “physical”.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S MATCH DAY ROSTER VS GEORGIA
1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC (14 caps)
2. Foster DeWitt (Courtenay, BC) – Westshore RFC / Nottingham Rugby (8 caps)

3. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Blackheath Rugby (7 caps)

4. Daragh Doyle (Québec City, QC) – Clontarf FC (5 caps)
5. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC (19 caps)
6. Matt Beukeboom (Lindsay, ON) – SAXV Angoulême (3 caps)
7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RC / Chicago Hounds (70 caps)
8. Tyler Ardron (Lakefield, ON) – Peterborough Pagans / Provence Rugby (40 caps)
9. Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Barrie RC / Aurora Barbarians (3 caps)
10. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Nottingham Rugby (19 caps)
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Hawkes Bay Magpies (13 caps)
12. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks (41 caps)
13. Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (5 caps)

14. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Westshore RFC (8 caps)

15. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (6 caps)

FINISHERS 
16. Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association (4 caps)
17. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Blackheath Rugby (10 caps)
18. Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pictou County RFC / James Bay AA (2 caps)
19. Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Camborne RFC (5 caps)
20. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (21 caps)
21. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto City RC / University of British Columbia (2 caps)
22. Jack Gore (Mississauga, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Wilfrid Laurier University (0 caps)
23. Liam James (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / UBCOB Ravens (4 caps)

ABOUT THE WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP

The World Rugby Nations Cup is a new biennial competition featuring 12 nations already qualified for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. Designed to create a structured annual test calendar and increase opportunities for meaningful international competition, the tournament represents a significant step forward in the global game.