World Rugby's new eligibility laws mean that a number of high-profile players could have the opportunity to play for a different country from which they were first capped.
by Ian Cameron View all Canada National Rugby Union Team news
FEATURED
Uruguay qualify for World Cup while shock loss sees Canada miss out
Uruguay overturned a 19-16 loss to the US in Colorado last weekend to win comfortably in Montevideo and advance on aggregate 50-34.
LATEST
International Rugby
'I am shocked' - Chilean player in dock after 'disgusting' photo shared online
International Rugby
Against all odds, USA book spot in RWC qualifying bout with Uruguay
International Rugby
USA coach 'at a loss for words' after World Cup qualifying upset
View all Canada National Rugby Union Team news
The Canada national rugby union team, also known by their French title of Équipe du Canada de rugby à XV, represent the country of Canada in the Americas Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup.
Although the sport of rugby union is not normally associated with the Americas, the Canada Rugby team are widely considered to be a successful tier two side. They’ve appeared in every edition of the Rugby World Cup since the tournament was founded in 1987 and they reached the quarter-final stage of the competition in 1991. The team have also achieved victories over established international sides such as France, Wales, Italy and Scotland.
Read on to discover even more about the Canada Rugby team. On this page, you can read the latest news about the side and see the team’s upcoming fixtures and recent results.
History of the Canada Rugby Team
The history of the Canada Rugby team dates all the way back to 1932 when the side made their debut against Japan. Following this, the team only played intermittently. However, the British and Irish Lions did make a stop in Canada on their way home from New Zealand in 1966. The Lions won the match 19-8, but Canada were highly competitive and the team soon established themselves as the best in the Americas, even if they did struggle against elite sides from Europe and the Southern Hemisphere.
In the 1980s and 90s, the Canada Rugby team built on this success. They appeared in the first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987 and they reached the quarter-finals of the competition in the next edition. Following this, they began to establish themselves against top-class opposition. They beat Wales in 1993 and France in 1994. Then, they drew with Ireland in 2000 and beat Scotland in 2002.
However, this period was a golden era for the Canada Rugby team. Since, although they’ve still featured in every edition of the Rugby World Cup, they’ve never qualified from their pool. Similarly, although they’re still considered to be a strong side, they’ve fallen behind Uruguay and Argentina and can no longer claim to be the best team in the Americas.