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Canada did not win the male Rugby World Cup match in more than eight years when the side walked off the field on October 8, 2019, following a 66-7 defeat by the eventual champions Springboks in Kobe.
The Canadians also suffered defeats from Six Nations side Italy and then two-time current world champion All black peoplebut they had another match scheduled in the brutal pool of death – a clash with Namibia they were targeted.
But the chance to chase history in that Test never came, with an extremely powerful tropical cyclone making landfall. Typhoon Habibis produced damaging winds and heavy rain before dissipating on October 14.
World Rugby and Japan In 2019, the organizing committee decided to cancel the pool matches between the All Blacks and Italy, England and France, and the Group B match between Canada and Namibia in Kamaishi.
“There was some disappointment right away,” Canadian center Ben LaSage said RugbyPass this week, but “some things are bigger than rugby.” Canada instead spent their time helping clean up, while players grabbed shovels and did what they could to help others.
“Just Lucas (Rumball) and I walked away from that World Cup. Even on this trip, there was an educational opportunity, wasn’t there, to explain to some of those young lads who weren’t a part of it, what the team did at the time and the impact it had,” he said.
“Every time we come back, we’ve been so well received. Not just in the Kamaishi area, but all over Japan. We’re getting notes from people in Tokyo, from people in Niigata, understanding the impact it’s had across the country and it’s been really well received.”
“Usually Kamaishi will send a representative to welcome the team and give us some kind of flag or gift that we hang in our team room and it’s quite personal. It’s just built up over the years and the support that we see even in the stands – we’re playing Japan, but there are people who bring little Canadian flags.”
“That one day or moment has been going on for seven-plus years so we hope it’s a bond we can continue to nurture for years to come.”
There are many videos and photos on the internet of Canadian players selflessly doing whatever they can to help others in their time of need. The Guardian have shared a video of Canadians like exes Northland and Otago lock in Josh Larsen to do his part.
Larsen revealed that the team leaders created a WhatsApp group, with about 15 players who spent the afternoon — originally scheduled to be game day — helping to move furniture and clear out homes affected by the storms.
“We’re just trying to do our little bit to try to help them in any way we can,” Canadian Peter Nelson said, according to The Guardian.
“Such a friendly nation and it is only right that we give back as much as we can, even though it seems to be a very small part.”
Canada has been back in Japan for the past few weeks as they prepare to take part in Asahi Super Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2026. The Canadians take on the defending champions Fiji in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon in Osaka.
The two teams will meet again in just over a year, having been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. It will be the first time since the loss to the Springboks that Canada has played in the men’s tournament, having missed out on qualifying for 2023.
“We licked our wounds and used it as extra motivation,” LeSage told the publication this week, and Canada earned its ticket back to the showcase event during PNC 2025. Canada also faced Spain during the brand new one Nations Rugby World Cup in July, whom he will also meet playing pool.
“Getting to know those teams and the style of play a little bit,” LeSage explained.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for some of our younger players to get significant Test minutes at that top level against a style that’s really hard to emulate. Some of my toughest Test matches I’ve played are against Fiji, just because of how direct and confrontational and physical they are.
“It’s one thing when you’re playing against the All Blacks or even Japan who are trying to get around you, but when you’re playing a team that’s trying to go through you, you just have to experience it and feel it.
“I think this will be a great opportunity to test ourselves in a new way that we’re trying to play … whatever team throws at us in 12 months might be different players but probably a similar style and probably a similar feel.”