CANADA WRAPS UP 2016 AMERICAS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP WITH NINE-TRY VICTORY OVER CHILE
Rugby Canada – Today’s 64 points is the third most scored in Canadian test match history while their nine tries rank second all-time; Inaugural ARC sees Canada into 3rd place with 15 points and 3-2 record
SANTIAGO, CHILE – Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team ran in nine tries as they concluded their 2016 Americas Rugby Championship campaign in style with a 64-13 win over Chile in Santiago Saturday. Canada got two tries from Nick Blevins and Pat Parfrey, his first at test level, as well as Phil Mackenzie and Dan Moor. Kyle Baillie, Gordon McRorie and Brett Johnson also grabbed their first test tries. McRorie had 22 points.
“Everyone came out hard today,” Blevins said. “We knew we had one game left to finish strong and we did.”
Canada’s 64 points is the third most scored in their test history while their nine tries rank second all-time.
“I am happy for the boys because they played good rugby today,” interim head coach Francois Ratier said. “We came into that game the right way and the result showed that.”
Canada exploded for six first half tries as Calgary’s Blevins powered through a tackle inside five minutes to put Canada ahead. Chile centre Matías Nordenflycht cut the deficit to 7-6 with two quick penalties before McRorie grabbed his only penalty of the night in 12th minute.
Truro’s Brett Johnson would score his first test try two minutes later as he used his incredible pace to beat a defender before cruising in from 40 meters out. McRorie would be the next beneficiary as he collected the ball at the back of the breakdown, skipped past a defender before outrunning a final defender to get his first test try in his 18th test match.
Summerside, PEI, native Baillie would be in on the action next as he dived for the line with a Chilean defender all over him to touch down, completing a 21 point explosion in just six minutes. Mackenzie and Parfrey would add further tries before the interval but Chilean captain Benjamín Soto would get his side’s first try of the half in the 40th minute cutting Canada’s half time lead to 43-13.
Moor would take a pop pass from McRorie in the 53rd minute as he ran in untouched for Canada’s seventh try before Blevins’ dummy sent the Chilean line the wrong way and he touched down for his eighth test try. Canada capped a fine performance in the 76th minute as Parfrey intercepted Nicolás Venegas’ pass and breezed in before replacement scrum half Andrew Ferguson added the conversion.
Canada concludes its ARC campaign by finishing in third place on 15 points after wins over Uruguay, Brazil and Chile and defeats to USA and Argentina XV. Canada tied with the USA for second but due to the USA’s 30-22 win in Austin, Texas, in Week 2, they received the tiebreaker advantage.
“It’s been rewarding for a great group of men and it has taken a real team effort over the last six weeks,” Ratier said. “I want to say a big thank you to all of our coaches and staff too during the ARC. We had a mix of veterans and 18 new caps during this tournament and I think we can be pleased at what we accomplished.”
Canada’s senior men’s team returns to action in June as they ‘Rise As One’ for the 2016 Summer Series for games against Japan, Russia and Toronto in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.
Tickets will be available to the general public on March 10. Head to events.rugbycanada.ca to purchase.
Canada’s Team to face Chile (Name, club, hometown):
1. Hubert Buydens, captain – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
2. Ray Barkwill – (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
3. Djustice Sears-Duru – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
4. Cam Pierce – (Pau) Vernon, BC
5. Paul Ciulini – (Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues) Vaughan, ON
6. Kyle Baillie – (St. Albert RFC/Atlantic Rock) Summerside, PEI
7. Alistair Clark – (Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
8. Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Scarborough, ON
9. Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
10. Pat Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
11. Brett Johnson – (Truro Saints/Atlantic Rock) Truro, NS
12. Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13. Phil Mackenzie – (Sale Sharks/Ontario Blues), Oakville, ON
14. Dan Moor – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
15. Brock Staller – (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
16. Rob Brouwer – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
17. Eric Howard – (Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues) Ottawa, ON
18. Ryan Kotlewski – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
19. Clay Panga – (Westshore Valhallians/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
20. Michael Hamson – (Halifax Tars/Atlantic Rock) Halifax, NS
21. Andrew Ferguson – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON
22. Gradyn Bowd – (UVIC Vikes/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
23. Duncan Maguire – (St. Albert RFCC/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Unavailable due to injury:
Kyle Gilmour – (Rotherham Titans/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Jake Ilnicki – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
Callum Morrison – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Mozac Samson – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Canada’s Coaching Staff:
Francois Ratier — Head Coach
Chris Silverthorn — Assistant Coach
James Kent — Performance Analyst
Andy Evans — Strength and Conditioning Coach
Carla Brash— Athletic Therapist
Rich Gregory — Athletic Therapist
Dr. John Gillis — Team Doctor
Mark Winokur — Team Manager
Chile’s team to face Canada:
1 Ramón Ayarza – ROC La Voulte
2 Manuel Gurruchaga-COBS
3 José Tomás Munita – U. Católica
4 Ignacio Álvarez – COBS
5 Raimundo Piwonka – PWCC
6 Benjamín Soto (cap) – Stade Francais
7 Javier Richard – COBS
8 Nikola Bursic – COBS
9 Juan Pablo Perrota – U. Católica
10 Cristian Onetto – COBS
11 Ítalo Zunino – COBS
12 Francisco de la Fuente – St Bagneres
13 Matías Nordenflycht – COBS
14 José Ignacio Larenas – U. Católica
15 Leonardo Montoya – Stade Rouen
16 Rodrigo Moya – PWCC
17 Nicolás Venegas –Stade Francais
18 Luis Sepúlveda –Troncos
19 Cristóbal Niedmann – PWCC
20 Francisco Hurtado – Old Georgians
21 Ignacio Silva – Stade Francais
22 Beltrán Vergara – Old Boys
23 Humberto Chacaltana – U. Católica
Scoring Details
Canada:
Tries: Nick Blevins (2), Pat Parfrey (2), Dan Moor, Kyle Baillie, Gordon McRorie, Phil Mackenzie, Brett Johnson
Conversions: Gordon McRorie (7), Andrew Ferguson
Penalties: Gordon McRorie
Chile:
Tries: Benjamín Soto
Conversion: Matías Nordenflycht
Penalties: Matías Nordenflycht (2)
Americas Rugby Championship | 2016 Competition Calendar
(Home v Away)
Round 1 – Weekend of Feb. 6 -7, 2016
Canada 33-17 Uruguay
USA 35-35 Argentina
Chile 25-22 Brazil
Round 2 – Weekend of Feb. 13 – 14, 2016
USA 30-22 Canada
Argentina 52-15 Chile
Brazil 29-33 Uruguay
Round 3 – Weekend of Feb. 20 -21, 2016
Canada 52-25 Brazil
USA 64-0 Chile
Uruguay 21-24 Argentina
Round 4 – Weekend of Feb. 27 – 28, 2016
Argentina 54-21 Canada
Brazil 24-23 USA
Chile 20-23 Uruguay
Round 5 – Weekend of March 5 – 6, 2016
Chile 13-64 Canada
Uruguay 29-25 USA
Brazil v Argentina
ARC standings:
1. Argentina XV (22 points)
2. USA (15)
3. Canada (15)
4. Uruguay (14)
5. Brazil (6)
6. Chile (5)
About Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Football has a long history in Canada dating back to its initial appearance in the 1860s. Since 1974, Rugby Canada has been a permanent fixture on the global rugby scene, including trips to each of the eight Men’s Rugby World Cups and seven Women’s Rugby World Cups. As a regular on the Men’s and Women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Canada continues to climb the world rankings and challenge the dominant rugby nations in both versions of the game.
To support the growth of rugby at the grass-roots level and to ensure there are elite programs for prospering young rugby players to become involved with, Rugby Canada has put an emphasis on developing its junior programs. Our goal is to develop and train competitive teams for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland and 2019 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RugbyCanada
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RugbyCanada
YouTube: www.youtube.com/RugbyCanada
Instagram: www.instagram.com/RugbyCanada
Website: www.rugbycanada.ca
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Bryan Kelly, Rugby Canada
Manager, Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 250-216-5272
Email: bkelly@rugbycanada.ca