BC Rugby – Strong Contingent of BC Players Named to Rugby Canada U20 Men’s XV Squad

Phil Berna (with ball) from Vancouver (UBC Thunderbirds) in action against Tonga at the 2015 World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament in Portugal. Berna was recently called up to Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens Team and is poised to make the U20 Fifteens Team once again (photo credit: World Rugby).

Vancouver, BC – January 28, 2016:  The Rugby Canada U20 Men’s Fifteens Camp is underway this week at Shawnigan Lake School.
 
The 38-man Squad includes 19 BC players who will be competing for a spot on the 26-man Team facing the USA on February 13th in Austin, Texas. That match will serve as a qualifier for the World Rugby U20 Trophy, being held April 19^th to May 1^st in Harare, Zimbabwe.
 
“Our entire focus is on the one game in Texas and so we are going to put these guys under a lot of pressure in a short period of time,” said Assistant Coach and Rugby Canada’s Coordinator of National Player Development & Talent ID, Ken Goodland from Victoria (Castaway Wanderers). “We have a number of returning players so there is an excellent foundation to work with and we can’t wait to get the campaign going.”
 
The 2015 Team defeated the USA in a pair of qualifiers, advancing to the World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament in Portugal. Canada finished the tournament in second place, falling 49-24 to Georgia in the Final.
 
Head Canada Coach Jeff Williams from Victoria (James Bay AA) is expected to announce the 2016 Team roster following the camp’s conclusion early next week .
 
BC Rugby would like to congratulate all the athletes who have been named to the Squad, and wish them good luck in camp.
 
Rugby Canada U20 Men’s Fifteens Squad
(* denotes returning player from 2015 U20 Team)
 
Curtis Delmonico of Vancouver, BC (UBCOB Ravens)
Conor Sampson of Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Foster Dewitt of Courtenay, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Reegan O’Gorman of Vancouver, BC (Vancouver Rowing Club) *
Trevor Helgason of Vancouver, BC (Queens University)
Matt Gallagher of White Rock, BC (UVic Vikes)
Cole Keffer of North Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Trevor Caton of Vancouver, BC (Vancouver Rowing Club)
Phil Berna of Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds) *
Gavin Rowell of Langley, BC (UVic Vikes)
George Barton of Duncan, BC (ASM Espoirs)
Theo Sauder of Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds) *
Sean Hase of Vancouver, BC (UBCOB Ravens)
Cathal Long of Victoria, BC (UVic Vikes)
Luke Bradley of Port Alberni, BC (UVic Vikes) *
Nakai Penny of Courtenay, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Aaron Evison of Golden, BC (James Bay AA)
 
Justin Alyward of Conception Bay South, NL
Matt Tierney of  Oakville, ON *
Brendan Blaikie of Toronto, ON
Marco II Cazza of Montreal, QC
Andrew Quattrin of Holland Landing, ON
Conor Keys of Stittsville, ON
Adrian Wadden of Oakville, ON *
Matt Beukeboom of Lindsay, ON
Peter Milazzo of Toronto, ON
Marcello Wainwright of Toronto, ON
Aria Keshoofy of Ottawa, ON
Keaton Porter of Barrie, ON 
Mitch Richardson of Stoney Creek, ON
Cooper Coates of Halifax, NS
Robbie Povey of England
Charlie McMickan of Athlone, Ireland
Trenton Cooper of Zephyr, ON
Kyle Lagasca of Toronto, ON
Will Manhire of England
Liam O’Hallahan of Grande Prairie, AB
Brandon McLeod of Cobourg, ON
Andrew Coe of Toronto, ON *
 
Unavailable due to injury:
 
Callum Passingham of Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Cali Martinez of Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds) *
Jason Hignell of Mission, BC (Abbotsford RFC)

U20 Coaching Staff:
Head Coach – Jeff Williams of Victoria (James Bay AA)
Assistant Coach – Kenny Goodland of Victoria (Castaway Wanderers)
Manager – Jack Hanratty
Video Analyst – Aaron Takle
Strength and Conditioning – Gareth Lynch
Head Therapist – Jessica Smith

 
Highlights from Canada vs USA, 2015 Qualifier
youtube.com/watch?v=EZ71EidOlrA
 
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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