Canada's Pacific Nations Cup squad missing experienced French-based trio

Canada’s squad for the upcoming September Test window is missing three experienced players – hooker Andrew Quattrin, lock Evan Olmstead and No.8 Tyler Ardron.

The trio, who boast 109 caps between them, are unavailable for selection for the trip to Japan, which involves a one-off fixture against the Brave Blossoms followed by two games in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, because of their club commitments in France.

Ardron and Olmstead are at the beginning of new careers with Provence and Nice, with the Pro D2 season only a couple of days away, while Quattrin’s season with Nationale outfit Carcassonne, who he joined from Valence, is already up and running.

Shorn of their experience, Canada’s forward contingent will lean heavily on the leadership skills of flanker Lucas Rumball, who is comfortably the most-capped player in the 32-strong group with 63 Test match appearances.

Head coach Steve Meehan has named five uncapped players in Jamie Armstrong, Bryce Worden, Sam Turner, Ryan Cozens and Jack Gore, the Candian University Rookie of the Year in 2025.

Canada face Japan on 5 September in Niigata City, as the Japanese Rugby Football Union celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Attentions will then turn to their Pacific Nations Cup campaign, which begins a week later against Fiji in Osaka.

This year’s streamlined PNC will conclude on 19 September in Tokyo, with Canada set to face either Japan or the USA in the Final or Third Place Play-Off.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM SEPTEMBER TOUR SQUAD

FORWARDS
Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA (10 caps)
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Cobras Brasil (3 caps)
*Ryan Cozens (Sidmouth, ENG) – Sidmouth RFC / Reading Rams (0 caps)
Foster Dewitt (Courtenay, BC) – Westshore RFC / Peñarol Rugby (7 caps)
Daragh Doyle (Québec City, QC) – Clontarf FC (2 caps)
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (23 caps)
Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, WA) – Eastside Lions RFC / Peñarol Rugby (5 caps)
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / SL Benfica (16 caps)
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Rotherham Titans (15 caps)
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Benfica SL (7 caps)
Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, Ontario) – Ottawa Ospreys / University of British Columbia (2 caps)
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (19 caps)
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC (8 caps)
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach Rugby Club / Chicago Hounds (67 caps)
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Hunter Wildfires (8 caps)
*Sam Turner (Vancouver, BC) – Meralomas RFC / Clifton RFC (0 caps)
Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Camborne RFC (2 caps)
*Bryce Worden (Sussex, NB) – Burnaby Lake RFC / West Harbour Rugby Club (0 caps)

BACKS
*Jamie Armstrong (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish (0 caps)
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / UVIC Vikes (23 caps)
*Jack Gore (Mississauga, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Wilfrid Laurier University (0 caps)
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution (30 caps)
Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Guelph Gryphons / Taranaki Rugby (2 caps)
Liam James (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / UBCOB Ravens (2 caps)
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys (17 caps)
Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Barrie RC / Aurora Barbarians (1 cap)
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks (39 caps)
Josh McIndoe (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / UVIC Vikes (2 caps)
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (7 caps)
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – Castaway Wanderers (7 caps)
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC (7 caps)
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto City RC / University of British Columbia (3 caps)

*Denotes potential debut