BC Rugby players dominate Canada U20 Squad picked for USA showdown
BC Rugby – Talent growth across the province evident in squad selection ahead of key qualifier
Image: BC player Elias Ergas at a previous national team match vs. Italy
(Credit: Ian Muir, courtesy of Rugby Canada)
Vancouver, BC – June 2, 2017: Ahead of a two game qualifier for the Junior World Rugby Trophy, Rugby Canada have just announced the squad selections. Of the 28 spots available, 14 have been filled by BC natives, demonstrating the strength and depth of young rugby talent in the province.
Canada is due to face their neighbour to the south in two back to back matches on June 13th and June 17th in Edmonton. The games will decide who will qualify for the Junior World Rugby Trophy, due to be held in Uruguay later this year. There is much to play for, with Canada looking to avenge the last minute defeat they suffered in this fixture last year. The squad also has some expectation, having reached the final of the competition in 2015, only to lose out to Georgia. The winner of the Junior World Rugby Trophy qualifies for the 2018 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Highlighting the quality of youth rugby in the province, it is noteworthy that three quarters of the players named in the squad play with clubs in BC. Officials at BC Rugby, governing body for Rugby in British Columbia, have been working hard with the rugby community to support grass roots development throughout the province and are delighted to see such strong representation in a national age-grade squad.
Many of the players already have international age-grade experience, with Liam Doll, Elias Ergas, Aaron Hersant, Fraser Hurst, Liam Murray, Quinn Ngawati, Anton Ngongo, William McDougall-Percillier, Brennig Prevost and Jake Thiel all previously having represented the national side.
Head Coach, Jeff Williams (from Victoria) said “Overall, there is a lot of experience on this year’s team.” Expanding further, he noted that “We have had great buy in and the boys have good rugby IQ so they have been extremely respective to new ideas and concepts. However, rugby is simple, we need to outwork the opposition and play with passion and intensity and keep the game simple.”
More information about BC Rugby
The British Columbia Rugby Union, commonly known as BC Rugby, is the governing body for Rugby in British Columbia and is a Provincial Union of Rugby Canada, the national governing body. Representing over 7,500 individuals registered through around 60 Member Clubs and Associations across the Province, BC Rugby leads and manages the sport with the aim to grow participation and develop excellence in all games of Rugby and in all facets of the sport.
Web: bcrugby.com
Twitter: twitter.com/bcrugbyunion
Facebook: facebook.com/bcrugbyunion
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For further information, please contact:
BC Rugby
Euan McGhee
Marketing & Communications Manager
emcghee@bcrugby.com
Tel: +1- 604-737-3070