Canada will launch its campaign for the Pacific Nations Cup on August 22 at 6 p.m. (HP) / 7 p.m. (HR) / 9 p.m. (HE), welcoming the United States Eagles, a 16th-classified team in the world. Tickets for this match are on sale and accessible clicking here. This meeting will be broadcast on TSN3 and TSN+.
The appointment of the Canadian team for the tournament occurs after a two -week training camp in Calgary and a preparatory match against the Alberta Wolf Pack.
“We are very satisfied with the training match we played against the Wolf Pack in Red Deer,” said head coach Stephen Meehan. The two teams played this match with the right spirit and the officials led the meeting with it. Erika and his team from the Titans Rugby club as well as local support were exceptional. It was a great exercise and we couldn’t ask for better. It was exactly what we needed. ”
24 players were also part of the group that represented Canada in the matches played in Edmonton earlier this summer.
The training also includes nine players who played the MLR final in 2025, including five members of the New England Free Jacks Champion team, Ben Lesage, Cole Keith, Isaac Olson, Josiah Morra, Kyle Steeves and Piers Von Dadelszen. Stephen Webb could get his first career selection at the Canada’s male rugby team. Calgarians of origin Ben Lesage and Matt Oworu will be back in the region for the first match against the United States. “We want this young generation of Canadian rugby players to go to another World Cup,” said Lesage.
Tyler Ardron has returned to the training for the first time since he played his 38th international match in the defeat of 2021 against Chile in qualification for the CMR of 2023. He represented the Castres Olympique club within the Top 14 in the last five years. His return and that of the veteran Evan Olmstead are a clear indication of the team’s intentions to win this pivotal match and his confidence in his ability to achieve it.
“We are very satisfied with the efforts and commitment of the players throughout the training camp, continuing the work we have started in Edmonton,” adds Meehan. The selection for the Pacific Nations Cup was extremely competitive, which is a positive sign of the depth that we develop. As we now turn our eyes to the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup against the United States, we understand the importance of the occasion. The players and the staff are concentrated and we will continue to build with these important matches in Calgary, Japan and Denver ”.
The 2025 edition of the Pacific Nations Cup serves as a direct qualification course to the 2027 rugby world cup while the three best teams (apart from Fiji and Japan, already qualified) will drop out for the tournament at 24 teams. The official announcement of World Rugby on the qualification process for the 2027 Rugby World Cup can be consulted by clicking here.
Tickets for the Pacific Nations Cup match in Calgary are on sale and you can access it by clicking here. Questions about the purchase of tickets can be sent to [email protected]. For more information on the boxes, please contact [email protected].
After Friday’s match in Calgary against the United States, the team will travel to Japan to face the hosts on Saturday August 30 at 1 a.m. (HP) / 4 h (HE) / 5 p.m. (local time). The six teams of the Pacific Nations Cup (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will then meet in Denver in Colorado for the playoffs, the semi-finals and the match for fifth place, September 14 in Denver, then the final and the match for third place, September 20 in Salt Lake in UTAH. The three best teams of the tournament will qualify for the Rugby World Cup (apart from Fiji and Japan, which are already qualified); The last team at the conclusion of the tournament will have a final opportunity to qualify as part of the qualifiers for South and Pacific.
For more information on the Pacific Nations Cup, please click here.
Press accreditation requests are now accepted by clicking here. Any question about press accreditations can be sent to [email protected].
Canada’s male rugby team schedule
Canada Men’s Men’s Rugby Team (Pacific Nations Cup)
Friday August 22, 2025
18 h (HP) / 19 h (HR) / 21 h (HE)
TSN3 et TSN+
Stade McMahon, Calgary
Buy your tickets by clicking here
Canada Men’s Rugby Male team (Pacific Nations Cup)
Saturday August 30, 2025
1 h (HP) / 4 h (HE) / 17 h (heure locale)
Stawde Yurtec, Sendai
TSN4 EN TSN+
Buy your tickets by clicking here
The other matches of the Pacific Nations Cup remain to be determined according to the results of Canada’s matches against the United States and Japan.
Canada’s male team training for the Pacific Nations Cup
Front
Calixto Martinez (White Rock, C.-B.) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
Cole Keith (Sussex, N.-B.) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
Conor Young (Yamba, Australie) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors
Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, C.-B.) – Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, C.-B.) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, N.-Z.) – Bayside RFC / Seattle Seawolves
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / New England Free Jacks
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – Ormstown Saracens / RFC LA
Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
Piers of Dadelszen (Vancouver, C.-B.) – New England Free Jacks
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, Pays de Galles) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
Tyler Ardron (Peterborough, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Castres Olympique
Rear
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / University of Guelph
Cooper Coats (Halifax, N.-É.) – Halifax Tars RFC / NOLA Gold
Isaac Olson (Vernon, C.-B.) – New England Free Jacks
Jason Higgins (Cork, Irlande) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens
Nic Benn (Caves Beach, Australie) – Utah Warriors
Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, Northern Ireland) – Dungannon RFC
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, N.-Z.) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / University of British Columbia
Talon McMullin (White Rock, C.-B.) – University of British Columbia
PERSONNEL
Stephen Mayhan – Entraseer-chief boss
Phil Mack – Coach
Anthony Mathison – Coach
Richard Andrews – Senior Analyst
James Rees – Main physical trainer
Lisa Ruggles – Thérpeute principal
Ben Motum – Assistant therapist
Dr. BOSOOFF – Médecin the team
Neil MacDougall – Manager
Maxine O’Leary – Media manager
