LANGFORD, BC – Canada Head Coach Kieran Crowley has selected the side that will open Canada’s 2014 campaign in the IRB America’s Rugby Championship (ARC).
Leading the way will be the All-Ontario front-row that helped their province to a fourth straight Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) title this year. Niagara Falls’ Ray Barkwill will accompany props Tom Dolezel and Doug Wooldridge in the trenches. It is they who have been tasked with opening Canada’s tournament against a sturdy and experienced Uruguayan scrum.
In the engine room, Aaron Flagg will line up alongside the pride of Prince Edward Island rugby, Kyle Baillie, in an attempt to add to the Canadian set-piece with a healthy line-out option.
Evan Olmstead, who recently returned to Canadian shores from an extended period in Australia’s Shute Shield competition, has been called upon to suit-up at blindside flanker. He joins former Coventry #8 Seb Pearson and Captain Kyle Gilmour, in what is sure to be a dynamic and well-balanced back-row combination.
Gilmour had these words about his first run-out as Captain of a Canadian ARC squad.
“We got a really good mix with this group. There are guys who have won a few caps and have been around the national team program for some time, as well as some new and hungry players.
Everyone here is fighting for a spot on that November Tour. This is huge building block to get to that next level of full international games.
The City of Langford does so much to support Rugby Canada, and I know a lot of guys are looking forward to the chance to play here, in front of friends and family”.
One of those players will surely be Duncan, BC product Patrick Kay, who is selected at fullback for this opening round of the ARC. Kay will bring power, pace and an experienced kicking game to the Canadian back-three, along with fellow BC native Sean Ferguson and Dan Moor of the Balmy Beach Club and Ontario Blues.
To face Uruguay in the middle Canada have elected to field one of their more physical center-pairings in recent memory, with World Cup veteran Derek Daypuck taking the pitch alongside Nick Blevins, who will bring his imposing runs to the outside-center channel.
The half-back pairing features two players who have both seen time for Canada at scrum-half in recent campaigns. On this occasion, Gord McRorie of the Prairie Wolfpack steps into the #10 jersey, while former Esher scrum-half Jamie Mackenzie will help control the Canadian attack at #9.
As with the starting line-up, the Canadian bench features an impressive mix of youth and experience, with veteran impact players like Nanyak Dala lying in wait alongside youngsters like Guiseppe Du Toit.
It is a roster that is sure to give Red Nation fans in Langford a lot to cheer about this Saturday, when Canada looks to get their 2014 ARC tournament off to a winning start.
Canada’s Starting Team to face Uruguay:
1 – Tom Dolezel, (London St. George’s/Ontario Blues) London, ON
2 – Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
3 – Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
4 – Aaron Flagg, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
5 – Kyle Baillie, (Edmonton Druids/Atlantic Rock) Charlottetown, PEI
6 – Evan Olmstead, (Parametta Two Blues/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
7 – Kyle Gilmour, Captain (St. Albert /Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
8 – Seb Pearson, (London St. George’s/Ontario Blues) London, ON
9 – Jamie Mackenzie, (UVIC Vikes/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
10 – Gordon McRorie, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
11 – Dan Moor, (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
12 – Derek Daypuck, (London St. George’s/Ontario Blues) London, ON
13 – Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
14 – Sean Ferguson, (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
15 – Pat Kay, (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Duncan, BC
16 – Ryan Hamilton, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
17 – Pete Houlihan, (Edmonton Druids/Prairie Wolf Pack) Edmonton, AB
18 – James Smith, (Shoalhaven RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
19 – Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Regina, SK
20 – Admir Cejvanovic (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
21 – Patrick Parfrey, (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. Johns, NL
22 – Guiseppe Du Toit, (UVIC Vikes) Maple Ridge, BC
23 – Clay Panga, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Canada Staff:
Head Coach: Kieran Crowley
Assistant Coach: Chris Silverthorn
Assistant Coach: Mike Shelley
Assistant Coach: Graeme Moffatt
Manager: Mark Winokur
Analyst: Josh Date
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Andy Evans
Therapist: Chris May
Athletic Therapist: Jessica Smith
Media Manager: Bryan Kelly
Jeff Hull is a contributor to Rugby Canada. Follow him on Twitter: @HullatHome
All games from the 2014 IRB Americas Rugby Championship will be streamed LIVE on www.rugbycanada.tv
Make sure to follow Rugby Canada on Social Media for up-to-the-minute information.
2014 IRB AMERICAS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE:
OCTOBER 11 – GAME DAY ONE:
USA vs. Argentina at 2:30pm local time (5:30pm ET)
Canada vs. Uruguay at 4:30pm local time (7:30pm PT)
OCTOBER 15 – GAME DAY TWO:
Uruguay vs. Argentina at 6pm local time (9pm ET)
Canada vs. USA at 8pm local time (11pm ET)
OCTOBER 19 – GAME DAY THREE:
Uruguay vs. USA at 2:30pm local time (5:30pm ET)
Canada vs. Argentina at 4:30pm local time (7:30pm PT)
Main Photo: Kris Gower/Rugby Canada
