International Men’s 15 Rugby Returns

International men’s fifteens rugby returns to BC Place as Canada lines-up against Japan in the first-ever Test match with the kickoff Saturday June 11th at 3:00pm.

Rugby Canada officially announced the 28-man squad considered for selection for the Japan game as well as the upcoming Tests in Alberta against Russia and Ontario against Italy.

Four of BC’s more prominent Rugby players who “stared” for professional rugby clubs abroad have been assembled to bolster the Canada line-up, led by Jamie Cudmore a four-time Rugby World Cup veteran player from Squamish.

Cudmore recently finished a playing career for Clermont Auvergne in France’s Top 14, where he became an instant fan favorite for his strength and toughness.

Joining Cudmore in the potential forward pack assignments are Vernon’s Cam Pierce and Williams Lake’s Jake Ilnicki.

Pierce has seen his personal stock rising along with his club Section Paloise, who were promoted from France’s second division (D2) to that country’s leading competition (Top 14) to begin the 2015-16 season.

Ilnicki, meanwhile, was a late addition to Rugby Canada’s Team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, helping him to earn a professional contract with San Diego of the Pro Rugby USA competition.

Maple Bay’s Matt Evans, who plays wing for English side Cornish Pirates, rounds out the compliment of BC professionals based abroad.

All four men have donned the BC provincial kit in past seasons and will be eagerly anticipating a potential homecoming game as they await Coach Mark Anscombe’s final Team selection.

Also up for selection is Vancouver’s Brock Staller, who is the most recent star to emerge from the BC Bears’ provincial program.

The powerfully built back was instrumental in helping his club, the UBC Thunderbirds, repeat as Rounsefell Cup champions in the Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League in 2016.

Staller has patrolled the wings or centers for UBC, but his range with the boot saw him start at fullback for Canada in 2016 test matches against Uruguay and Chile.

Capilano Rugby Club alumni Evan Olmstead, who has roots in North Vancouver but plies his trade with Newscastle Falcons during the winter and the Prairie Wolf Pack during the summer, is also in the mix for selection.

The 28-man squad equally features a number of notable names with past or current connections to BC Rugby clubs, including Ray Barkwill, Nick Blevins, Hubert Buydens, Jamie Mackenzie, Gordon McRorie, Djustice-Sears Duru, Ben LeSage and Jordan Wilson-Ross.

The game against 10th ranked Japan adds another chapter to Canadian rugby history by being the first ever test match held at BC Place.

Earlier this year the inaugural HSBC Canada Men’s Sevens was held at BC Place where more than 60,000 fans watched the two day event setting a new Canadian rugby attendance record.

Japan shook up the rugby establishment at the 2015 Rugby World Cup by defeating South Africa, before riding the momentum to wins over Samoa and the USA.

Canada came up short in its last home Test against Japan in 2014 and will face a tough battle against the upstart Japanese side this Saturday.

Canada’s Senior Men’s Squad (Name, club, hometown):

Jamie Cudmore – (Oyonnax) Squamish, BC

Jake Ilnicki – (San Diego/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC

Cam Pierce – (Section Paloise/Kelowna Crows) Vernon, BC

Brock Staller – (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Matt Evans – (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC

Evan Olmstead – (Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack) Vancouver, BC

Kyle Baillie – (Ohio/Atlantic Rock) Summerside, PEI

Ray Barkwill – (Sacramento/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON

Nick Blevins – (San Francisco/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Hubert Buydens – (San Diego/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK

Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues) Brantford, ON

Paul Ciulini – (Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues) Vaughan, ON

Alistair Clark – (Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

Tom Dolezel – (London St. George’s/Ontario Blues) London, ON

Andrew Ferguson – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON

Matt Heaton – (Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock) Godmanchester, QC

Eric Howard – (Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues) Ottawa, ON

Ben LeSage – (UBC Thunderbirds/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Jamie Mackenzie – (UBCOB Ravens/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Dan Moor – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON

Pat Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL

Taylor Paris – (Agen) Barrie, ON

Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Scarborough, ON

Mozac Samson – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Djustice Sears -Duru – (Glasgow Warriors/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

Matt Tierney – (Section Paloise/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

Jordan Wilson-Ross – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON

Canada’s Senior Men’s Coaching Staff:

Head Coach – Mark Anscombe

Assistant Coach – Graeme Moffat

Assistant Coach, Forwards – Michael Shelley

Technical Consultant (Auckland Blues) – Paul Feeney

Head Strength & Conditioning – Michael Deasy

Analyst – Aaron Takel

Physiotherapist – Mallory White

Athletic Therapist – Jessica Smith

Tour Manager – Jim Kazakoff

Operations & Logistics Manager – Alana Gattinger

Thanks to BC Rugby for the info.