mens
pacific-nations-cup
TOKYO: Captain Lucas Rumball is set to become the fourth most capped player in Canadian men’s rugby history after being named in the squad to play USA Eagles, with rival teams set to meet at the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 Third Place Playoff
Canada put 29 points in ninth place Fiji in the semi-final defeat in Tokyo last weekend, but have since focused on the clash with the Eagles. The Canadians won their last game between them which was played about 13 months ago.
Coach Stephen Meehan made some key changes for the Tokyo Test, with openside flanker Sion Parry unavailable due to injury. Ethan Fryer comes into the attack, starting in the legendary red jersey for the first time since returning from a long layoff due to injury.
Foster DeWitt returns to the run-on side at scrum, Jesse Kilgour has been brought into the XV at fly-half and Cooper Coats will start at fly-half. Spencer Jones wore the number 10 jersey against Fiji, but the New Zealander moved to the bench.
Joining Rumball are free forwards Fryer and Mason Flesch, who scored two tries against the Flying Fijians last weekend. Darah Doyle and Izzak Kelly start as the two locks, with Sam Miller packing alongside DeWitt and Kyle Steeves up front.
In the backs, Kilgour and Coats will look to provide quality ball to an exciting backline, which includes 41-Test veteran Ben LeSage at inside center once again. LeSage will link up with Jacob Ince as the starting center pairing for the second straight match.
Jamie Armstrong and Kyle Tremblay are wing players, while University of British Columbia product Takoda McMullin is retained at fullback. The jersey with number 23 still needs to be confirmed on the bench.
The Canadian team is playing against the USA Eagles
1. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Benfica SL (9 appearances)
2. Foster DeWitt (Courtenay, BC) – Westshore RFC / Peñarol Rugby (7 appearances)
3. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Hunter Wildfires (10 games)
4. Daragh Doyle (Québec City, QC) –?Clontarf FC (4 games)
5. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / SL Benfica (18 games)
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (25 appearances)
7. Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, WA) – Eastside Lions RFC / PeñarolRugby (6 appearances)
8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach Rugby Club / Chicago Hounds (69 appearances)
9. Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Barrie RC / Aurora Barbarians (2 games)
10. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / UVIC Vikes (24 games)
11. Jamie Armstrong (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish? (2 performances)
12. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks (41 games)
13. Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Guelph Gryphons / Taranaki Rugby (4 games)
14. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC (9 appearances)
15. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (9 appearances)
Substitutions
16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Rotherham Titans (17 games)
17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC (9 appearances)
18. Bryce Worden (Sussex, NB) – Burnaby Lake RFC / West Harbor Rugby Club (2 appearances)
19. Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Camborne RFC (4 games)
20. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, Ontario) – University of British Columbia (3 appearances)
21. Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto City RC / University of British Columbia (4 appearances)
22. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys (19 appearances)
23. TB