HUBERT BUYDENS TO CAPTAIN CANADA’S MEN’S TEAM AT 2016 AMERICAS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Rugby Canada – Interim Head Coach Francois Ratier announces 28-man long list for five-team international competition, featuring 18 uncapped players
LANGFORD, BC – Canada’s Interim Senior Men’s Head Coach Francois Ratier has named a 28-man long list squad for the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship (ARC).
The squad, which will be captained by veteran prop Hubert Buydens, will begin training camp on Jan. 31 at Shawnigan Lake before facing Uruguay in their ARC opener on Feb. 6 at Westhills Stadium in Langford, BC.
“I’m looking for total commitment and hard work on and off the field,” Ratier said. “We don’t have too much time together before the first game but if all of us are working hard, with the right attitude, I am not worried about this group and their ability to fight for each other.
“Canadian players have a big heart and passion and it will be a good time to show these values.”
The squad features 18 uncapped players who are joined by capped players Ray Barkwill, Nick Blevins, Jake Ilnicki, Phil Mackenzie, Gordon McRorie, Callum Morrison, Evan Olmstead, Pat Parfrey, Djustice Sears-Duru and Buydens.
Canada’s 18 uncapped players are a product of the Canadian Rugby Championship, the highest domestic competition in Canada that has run annually since 2009. Fourteen members of the squad are 25 or younger but with Rugby Canada’s age-grade programs, they have amassed a great deal of experience.
“The ARC will provide us with an opportunity to build on our Rugby World Cup campaign and continue to develop more talent for our senior men’s program as these test matches are an important first step to preparing our next generation of athletes,” Rugby Canada’s National Program Manager Gareth Rees said. “These players have an incredible opportunity to showcase their skills in five high level test matches and we’re looking forward to renewing old rivalries and establishing new ones during the ARC.”
The ARC, which also features Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the USA and Uruguay, will provide Canada with five additional annual test matches. In addition to the opener against Uruguay, Canada will also host Brazil on Feb. 20 while playing their other three matches away from home.
“Our attack and defence coaches as well as myself will put all the pieces together during the first week of training to make sure the players understand the concepts and organization we want to run,” Ratier said. “We want to keep it simple and straight to the point.
“Attack with physicality and speed, defend with heart and discipline.”
Tickets for both of Canada’s home games at Westhills Stadium are available now and can be purchased at http://events.rugbycanada.ca. Both games kickoff at 7pm ET / 4pm PT and will be broadcast LIVE online.
Canada’s 2016 Americas Rugby Championship Long List:
Kyle Baillie – (St. Albert RFC/Atlantic Rock) Summerside, PEI
Ray Barkwill – (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Gradyn Bowd – (UVIC Vikes/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Rob Brouwer – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
Hubert Buydens – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
Liam Chisholm – (UVIC Vikes) Kenora, ON
Alistair Clark – (Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Paul Ciulini – (Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues) Vaughan, ON
Andrew Ferguson – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON
Michael Hamson – (Halifax Tars/Atlantic Rock) Halifax, NS
Eric Howard – (Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues) Ottawa, ON
Jake Ilnicki – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
Brett Johnson – (Truro Saints/Atlantic Rock) Truro, NS
Ryan Kotlewski – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Phil Mackenzie – (Sale Sharks/Ontario Blues), Oakville, ON
Duncan Maguire – (St. Albert RFCC/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Alex Mascott – (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Langley, BC
Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Dan Moor – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Callum Morrison – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Evan Olmstead – (Parramatta Two Blues/Prairie Wolf Pack) Vancouver, BC
Clay Panga – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Pat Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
Jacob Robinson – (St. Albert RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Scarborough, ON
Mozac Samson – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Djustice Sears-Duru – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Americas Rugby Championship | 2016 Competition Calendar
(Home v Away)
Round 1 – Weekend of Feb. 6 -7, 2016
Canada v Uruguay
USA v Argentina
Chile v Brazil
Round 2 – Weekend of Feb. 13 – 14, 2016
USA v Canada
Argentina v Chile
Brazil v Uruguay
Round 3 – Weekend of Feb. 20 -21, 2016
Canada v Brazil
USA v Chile
Uruguay v Argentina
Round 4 – Weekend of Feb. 27 – 28, 2016
Argentina v Canada
Brazil v USA
Chile v Uruguay
Round 5 – Weekend of March 5 – 6, 2016
Chile v Canada
Uruguay v USA
Brazil v Argentina
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Bryan Kelly I Manager, Communications and Media Relations I Rugby Canada I 3024 Glen Lake Road I Langford, British Columbia, Canada V9B 4B4 I Tel. 250.418.8998 ext. 314 I Fax 250.386.3810 I Cell. 250.216.5272 | bkelly@rugbycanada.ca I www.rugbycanada.ca