Canada trim training squad after coming last in Pacific Nations Cup

Canada, whom Ireland face in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup have named a reduced training squad following a hugely disappointing Pacific Nations tournament in which they finished fifth and last following a narrow final day defeat to the USA.

Coach and former All Black fullback Kieran Crowley has named his 35-man preliminary training squad for the World Cup. Ospreys forward Tyler Ardron will continue as captain while Tom Dolezel, Jason Marshall, Jamie Cudmore, Jebb Sinclair, and Taylor Paris have all been added to the group.

They are expected to play a part in the warm-up matches either in Ottawa on August 22nd or Halifax on August 29th. Four players who took part in the PNC have ben omitted; Jake Ilnicki, Callum Morrison, Thyssen de Goede, and James Pritchard.

Pritchard’s is the most notable omission, having surpassed both the 60-cap and 600 points milestones in recent days. The 36-year-old fullback had previously appeared in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 World Cups.

The squad will be trimmed following the match against Glasgow Warriors in Halifax, with a final list of 31 players to be submitted to World Rugby on August 31st.

Canada will play warm-up matches when they get to England in preparation for the World Cup opener against Ireland on September 19th. They take on Georgia (September 2nd), and Fiji (September 6th). ,

Canada training squad: Hubert Buydens (Castaway Wanderers), Tom Dolezel (London St. George's), Jason Marshall (Agen) Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville Crusaders), Andrew Tiedemann (Plymouth Albion), Doug Wooldridge (Lindsay), Ray Barkwill (Castaway Wanderers), Aaron Carpenter (Cornish Pirates), Benoît Pifféro (Blagnac), Brett Beukeboom (Plymouth Albion), Jamie Cudmore (Clermont), Tyler Hotson (Doncaster), Evan Olmstead (Parramatta), Jon Phelan (Doncaster), Jebb Sinclair (London Irish), Tyler Ardron (capt., Ospreys), Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers), Kyle Gilmour (St. Albert), John Moonlight (James Bay), Richard Thorpe (London Welsh), Phil Mack (James Bay), Jamie Mackenzie (UVic Vikes), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets), Nathan Hirayama (UVic Vikes), Liam Underwood (Balmy Beach), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Connor Braid (Glasgow Warriors), Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers), Conor Trainor (UBCOB Ravens), Jeff Hassler (Ospreys), Phil Mackenzie (Sale Sharks), Taylor Paris (Agen), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates), Harry Jones (Capilano)