Canada has qualified for every World Cup of rugby and always through the front door. But a rising U.S. is now of concern ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Phil Mack and Connor Braid from Victoria, both Oak Bay grads, will be crucial for No. 23 Canada in the two-game, total-points qualifying set against the No. 17 U.S. on June 24 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., and July 1 in San Diego to decide the North American berth into the 2019 World Cup.
The loser between Canada and the U.S. must go through a back-door qualifying route that includes South America, something Canada has never had to do before.
Canadian coach Mark Anscombe on Saturday named 32 players for the biggest month in Canadian men’s XVs rugby since the 2015 World Cup.
The roster includes Mack, Braid, Newcastle pro DTH van Der Merwe of Victoria, Kyle Baillie of Westshore RFC, Ray Barkwill of the Castaway Wanderers and former Castaway and now London Irish pro Ciaran Hearn.
The University of Victoria Vikes have contributed heavily to the Canadian cause with Liam Chisholm, Gradyn Bowd, Liam Chisholm, Conor Keys and Guiseppe Du Toit named along with Vikes alumni Sean Duke, Brett Beukeboom and Jake Ilnicki.
Langford-based Canada will warm up with Tests on June 10 against No. 12 Georgia in Calgary and June 17 against No. 16 Romania in Edmonton.
“The two games against the U.S.A. are obviously hugely important as we look to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup,” said Anscombe, in a statement.
“We want to be on the front foot when we go down to San Diego and we know the public support across Canada, and especially in Alberta and Hamilton, will be a massive boost for us.”
