Canada’s Under-18 Men’s head coach Mike Curran has named the squad that will travel down to California for the December tour to close out 2019.

The group will be split into Canada Red and Canada White and play two internationals against USA Blue and USA White on December 28th and 31st. The teams will then head to Los Angeles for a scrimmage each against the Blue Bulls Academy Side in the World Youth Festival on January 3rd.

The tour pulls together athletes from across the country, identified through regional camps and provincial competition throughout the year and gives them the opportunity to be tested at the international level.

“The U18 level is a critical step in exposing players to the demands of international rugby,” said Curran. “Players will be tested in the way they prepare, play, and review.”

The U18 program plays a critical role in the national team pathway, staying aligned with Under-20 and Senior program objectives as they look to develop athletes with Senior National team aspirations.

“Throughout this tour, players will be asked to play the game at greater speed and under greater pressure,” added Curran. “We want to facilitate the growth of these players under greater pressure than they have seen in the past. Being creative is the primary theme.”

This tour will play a role in selection going into 2020, giving athletes an opportunity to put their hand up for age-grade national team play in the new year.

“Next year, the U18s will select a single side to compete in the international festival in July at Brentwood College, teams are still being confirmed.  The goal is to have a significant number of the players transition to the U20s for a two-year process.”

The team’s matches against the USA will take place on December 28th and 31st, at 4pm ET/ 1pm PT and 5:30pm ET/ 2:30pm PT on both days.

As of now there will be no live streaming options available, but half time and full time scores updated on Rugby Canada’s social media channels with live updates on USA Rugby’s twitter feed.

 

Canada’s U18 Roster:

Max Abercrombie- Castaway Wanderers (BC)

David Adeleye- Bytown Blues (ON)

Mathew Amyotte- Strathcona Druids (AB)

Carson  Artt- Waterloo (ON)

David Begin- Bayside Sharks (BC)

Liam Bowman- Oakville Crusaders (ON)

Storm Buck- Kelowna Crows (BC)

Michael Chapman- Fergus Highland (ON)

Adam Doyle- Kingston Panthers RFC (ON)

Aiden Emmens- Oshawa Vikings (ON)

Kobe Faust- Oshawa Vikings (ON)

Hanno Fourie- Campbell River (BC)

Ethan Fryer- Naas RFC (USA)

Brock Gillespie- Peterborough Pagans (ON)

Luke Gregory- Oshawa Vikings (ON)

Cameron Haynes- Toronto Saracens (ON)

Jamin Hodgkins- Atlantic Rock (BD)

Isaac Hokanson- Shawnigan Lake School (AB)

Jacob Ince- Crusaders Rugby Club (ON)

Ethan Jurgeneit- Barrie RFC (ON)

Matt Klimchuck- Regina Rogues (SK)

Jérémi Leduc-Féougier- Montreal Irish RFC (QC)

Josiah Levale- Abbotsford RFC (BC)

Jan Lourens- Clansmen RFC (AB)

Tyler Matchem- Nova Scotia Keltics (NS)

Brendan McKerrow- Crusaders Rugby Club (ON)

Talon McMullin- Earl Mariott High School (BC)

Takoda McMullin- Earl Mariott High School (BC)

Phoenix Moller- Robert Bateman SS (BC)

Tom Morrissey- Mont-Tremblant RFC (QC)

Prince Ndukwe- Balmy Beach (ON)

Joel Nordstrom- Strathcona Druids (AB)

Josh Nordstrom- Strathcona Druids (AB)

Rhys Patterson- Toronto Saracens (ON)

Duncan Phillips- Ottawa Irish (ON)

Armand Pienaer- Action Rugby (ON)

Mehdi Porchet- Oyonnax Rugby (FR)

Sam Reimer- Ajax Wanderers (ON)

David Scollon- Oakville Crusaders (ON)

Sean Snyman- Oakville Crusaders (ON)

Dan Svoboda- Ajax Wanderers (ON)

Payton  Teneycke- Brandon Barbarians RFC (MB)

James Topping- Oakville Crusaders (ON)

Darius Towers- Regina Grads (SK)

Jared Usmar- Toronto Saracens (ON)

De Wet Van RooYan- Red Deer Titans (SA)

Logan Weidner- Carson Graham Secondary (BC)

Relmu Wilson-Valdez- LV Rogers SS (BC)

Jayden  Woodworth- Fredericton Loyalists (NB)

Jackson Wright- Lethbridge Rugby Club (AB)

 

Canada’s Schedule:

Dec 28 – Chula Vista Training Center, San Diego, CA

1:00pm PT             Canada Red vs USA Blue

2:30pm PT            Canada White vs USA White

 

Dec 31 – Chula Vista Training Center, San Diego, CA

1:00pm PT             Canada White vs USA Blue

2:30pm PT          Canada Red vs USA White

 

Jan 3      World Youth Festival, Los Angeles, CA

https://worldyouthrugbyfestival.com/

TBA     Canada White vs Blue Bulls Academy Side (SA)

TBA     Canada Red vs Blue Bulls Academy Side (SA)