22-year-old Ontario native to captain Rugby Canada against Japan, Scotland and USA in June.
Tyler Ardron Announced as Rugby Canada Captain
BURNABY, BC – Tyler Ardron has been announced as Captain of Canada’s Men’s Fifteens Team leading into a busy June International Series against Japan, Scotland and USA.Canada Head Coach Kieran Crowley made the announcement before dinner in Burnaby, BC on Sunday evening following an intensely competitive trial-match on Saturday between the BC Invitational and Canada Selects Teams.
“I see Tyler as a captain for the future and certainly he’s a young man with a level head and he’s shown that he has great maturity,” said Crowley. “With the Ospreys he’s been brought into the leadership group and for a person to achieve that in their first year of professional rugby is a major compliment to him,” added Crowley.
The 22-year-old Ontario native, who plays professional rugby in Wales for the Ospreys, succeeds current hooker Aaron Carpenter, who took over the captaincy following the 2011 Rugby World Cup and Pat Riordan’s retirement.
“Aaron has done a great job for Canada and we had a discussion about it and he’s 100% behind Tyler. Aaron has moved up to hooker and we see this as a chance for him to focus on trying to nail that position and not have the other parts of being a captain on his mind,” added Crowley.
Ardon has 13 total caps for Canada dating back to his debut on June 9, 2012 against the United States in Kingston, Ontario. The 6’4 mobile back-row forward was elated following the announcement.
“It’s an incredible honour for me to be named Canada’s Captain and I would like to thank Kieran (Crowley), the coaching staff and management and my fellow teammates for the support in me,” said Ardron following the announcement. “To be in the same category as Canadian Rugby legends Gareth Rees, Al Charron, Morgan Williams, Pat Riordan and Aaron Carpenter as Captain is a huge privilege for me,” added Ardron.
Over the next three weeks Canada’s man roster will travel across North America and back to face three difficult opponents and during the June International Series.
“In our squad right now we have a great mix of veterans and some talented younger players and most of us have been together for a few years. We’re all building towards the World Cup next year and I think this summer’s tests are big opportunities for us,” added the Lakefield, Ontario native.
CANADA’S ROSTER FOR JUNE INTERNATIONAL SERIES:
Tyler Ardron – Captain (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
Ray Barkwill – (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Connor Braid – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Hubert Buydens – (Manawatu Turbos/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates RFC) Brantford, ON
Jamie Cudmore – (ASM Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
Nanyak Dala – (Castaway Wanderers/Saskatoon Wild Oats) Saskatoon, SK
Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys/Prairie Wolf Pack) Okotoks, AB
Ciaran Hearn – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
Tyler Hotson – (London Scottish RFC) Vancouver, BC
Jake Ilnicki – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
Harry Jones – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Adam Kleeberger – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) White Rock, BC
Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Jason Marshall – (Atlantique Stade Rochelais) Vancouver, BC
Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Patrick Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. Johns, NL
Taylor Paris – (SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne) Barrie, ON
Jon Phelan – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
James Pritchard – (Bedford Blues) Parkes, NSW, Australia
Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Fredericton, NB
Andrew Tiedemann – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Liam Underwood – (Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
DTH Van der Merwe – (Glasgow Warriors) Regina, SK
To purchase tickets to the upcoming internationals, please visit: http://events.rugbycanada.ca
Make sure to follow Rugby Canada on Social Media for up-to-the-minute information.
www.facebook.com/RugbyCanada
www.twitter.com/RugbyCanada
www.instagram.com/RugbyCanada
CANADA’S MEN’S SCHEDULE:
CANADA SELECTS 26 – 27 BC BEARS INVITATIONAL
Saturday, May 31
Klahanie Park, West Vancouver, BC
CANADA VS JAPAN
Saturday, June 7
Pacific Nations Cup
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC
Kickoff 6:00pm Pacific Time (9pm ET)
LIVE on TSN1 and Streamed LIVE on www.irb.com
CANADA VS SCOTLAND
Saturday, June 14
BMO Field, Toronto, ON
Kickoff 2pm Eastern Time (11am PT)
Streamed LIVE on www.tsn.ca and Delayed on TSN1 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
CANADA VS USA
Saturday, June 21
Pacific Nations Cup
Bonney Field, Sacramento, CA
Kickoff 3pm Pacific Time (6pm ET)
LIVE on TSN
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