On July 18, 2025 (Edmonton, Alberta) – The Canada’s male rugby team pushed Spain into its last entrenchments during an intense test match Friday evening at the Clarke Stadium stadium in Edmonton, but a penalty on the last action allowed visitors to win a dramatic victory 24 to 23.
A performance full of enthusiasm allowed the Canadians, led 11 to 6 at halftime, to lead 20 to 11 in the second half. Matt Oworu scored two trials and was elected player of the match of the city of Edmonton. The powerful races and the 24-year-old striker’s clinical finish ignited the public and allowed Canada to take control of the match at the start of the second half.
The Canadians scored two trials in this second half-twice by Oworu-and kept a short advance in the scoring at the end of the match, the opening half Peter Nelson marking 13 points on the foot. But Spain took advantage of a penalty at the last minute to tear off the victory at the final whistle.
“I think we have shown that we have the talent to compete with everyone,” said Oworu after the match. When we wanted to score at the end of the match, we lost our concentration for half a second, and that’s international rugby. It’s a game that is played out, and we missed this little nothing.
As long as we play in good places and listen to our decision -makers, there is no need to look for other answers – all the answers are in the locker room. We are confident. »»
Canada has shown great courage and resumed well after last week’s short defeat against Belgium. Captain of the team for his 60th selection, Lucas Rumball led the game from the forward pack by showing great physicity and recovering important balloons.
“It is a big change compared to [notre match] Six days ago, said Rumball. Our plan was to try to refocus, keep last week’s victories and learn from our mistakes, and I think we did a good job by fighting until the 80th minute. It was a real boxing match on the field. »»
Spain opened the scoring by the boot of Gonzalo López Bontempo, but Canada responded with two penalties of Nelson to take advantage 6 to 3. Spain marked just before half-time thanks to a corner of Pau Aira and another penalty to return to the locker room with an advance from 11 to 6.
Upon returning from the locker room, the Canadians returned to the field with the intention of taking the match on their own. In the 45th minute, Oworu went to flatten in force after a solid game sequence. A few minutes later, Spencer Jones coup a clearance before serving Oworu for his second try, giving the Canadians 20 to 11.
However, two consecutive yellow cards against Canadian pillars – CalixTo Martinez for high tackle and the neophyte Emerson Prior for a collapsed maul – have revived Spain. A penalty test and another penalty from López Bontempo allowed the Spanish to return to 23 to 21.
Despite the continuous attacks in Spain, Canada held out at the end of the match, Evan Olmstead-which made its first appearance in Test-Match since the 2019 World Cup-recovering a major ball to reduce Spanish pressure. Canada sought to advance towards half a Spanish field, seeking to mark to seal the victory at home, but a penalty on a grouping in the game stoppages gave Spain a last opportunity, and a 25 -meter penalty of López Bontempo sealed the match for the Spanish.
Despite the defeat, the team of chief coach Stephen Meehan has learned positive lessons, including a solid defense, an opportunistic attack and pressure under pressure. The back Nelson crossed the 150 -point course for Canada during this match, finishing with 13 points to wear its total in the Canadian jersey to 159 points in 28 selections.
Friday’s match punctuates the July Test-Match series in Canada before the start of the Pacific Nations Cup next month against the United States in Calgary, which is also the start of Canada’s qualification campaign for the 2027 rugby world cup.
Summary of the marked points of Canada
Essays: Matt Oworu 2 (45 ‘, 48’)
Transformations : Peter Nelson 2 (46’, 49’)
Penalties: Peter Nelson 3 (16 ‘, 21’, 62 ‘)
Next step for the Canada’s male rugby team
Canada’s male rugby team will focus on the Qualification Campaign for the 2027 Rugby World Cup when it faces its North American rivals, the United States, at the Calgary McMahon Stadium stadium on Friday, August 22. The kick -off of the Canadian battle in the Pacific Nations Cup against the Americans, ranked 16th in the world, is scheduled at 7 p.m. HR (9 p.m. He / 6 p.m. HP). You can buy tickets here.
Composition of the male team of Canada against Spain
1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, Colombie-Britannique) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, Ontario) – Barbarians d’Aurora / New England Free Jacks
3. Cole Keith (Sussex, Nouveau-Brunswick) – Belleisle Rovers RFC/ New England Free Jacks
4. Piers Von Dadszency (Vancouver, Colombie Britanique) – New England Free Jacks
5. Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, Colombie-Britannique) – Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen
6. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, Pays de Galles) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, Ontario) – Balmy Beach Club / Chicago Hounds
8. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, Alberta) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, Irlande) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds
10. Cooper Coats (Halifax, Nova Scotia)-Halifax Tars RFC/ Nola Gold
11. Josiah Morra (Toronto, Ontario) – New England Free Jacks / Saracens de Toronto
12. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, New Zealand)-Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors
13. Noah Flight (COBOURG (OTARIOO) – COBOURG of Scoxons / Chicago HOUNDS
14. Isaac Olson (Vernon, Colombie-Britannique) – New England Free Jacks
15. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, Northern Ireland) – Dungannon RFC
Finish
16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, Alberta) – Strathcona Druids RFC/ Seattle Seawolves
17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, Ontario) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC/ Utah Warriors
18. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, Manitoba) – Manitoba Wombats / New England Free Jacks
19. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, Colombie-Britannique) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC
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21. Stephen Webb (Torto, Ontario)-Balmy Beach RFC/ British Columbia University
22. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, Colombie-Britannique) – Bayside RFC / Pacific Pride
23. Brenden Black (Oakville, Ontario) – Crusade d’Oakville / University of Guelph
