France-based professional Matt Beukeboom is set to make a long-awaited return to Canada colors after being named in Steve Meehan’s 36-man squad for the November leg of the World Rugby Nations Cup. The 29-year-old lock or blindside flanker has been a regular in the Pro D2 for several years, but has not added to his 3 test caps won during the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship.
Biarritz loose forward Matthew Oworu and former NOLA Gold prop Tyler Matchem return from injury after missing out on the spring and summer tests. Hawke’s Bay winger Nic Benn is set for his first test appearance of the year after spending the past several months in New Zealand.
Three players will be looking to make their senior men’s debuts. Laurier University flyhalf Jack Gore, who will celebrate his 19th birthday while on tour, is again selected after training with the squad in July. He is joined by UBC winger and Canada Sevens select Demetri Patterson. Waterloo County fullback Mitch Voralek, who played for the Toronto Arrows in 2022, is also in line for a first cap.
Meanwhile joining Meehan in the coaching ranks is Kévin Rouet. The Senior Women’s Head Coach will act as an assistant after leading the Maple Leafs to historic back-to-back wins over World Cup champions England. Anthony Mathison continues to lead the forwards with Callum Gibbins in charge of defense.
Canada opens their tour against Georgia in Tbilisi on November 7. They will then play a neutral venue clash against Hong Kong in Chambéry, France, on November 14. The series concludes on November 20 opposite Romania in Bucharest.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Cali Martinez (Old Glory DC) 15 caps
Sam Miller (Blackheath, UK) 10 caps
HOOKER
Austin Creighton (Cobras, BR) 4 caps
Foster DeWitt (Nottingham, UK) 8 caps
Dewald Kotze (Rotherham Titans, UK) 18 caps
Andrew Quattrin (Carcassonne, FR) 32 caps
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Cole Keith (Périgueux, FR) 47 caps
Tyler Matchem (James Bay) 2 caps
Kyle Steeves (Blackheath, UK) 11 caps
Bryce Worden (West Harbour, AU) 3 caps
SECOND ROW
Matt Beukeboom (Charente, FR) 3 caps
Daragh Doyle (Clontarf, IR) 5 caps
Izzak Kelly (Bayside) 19 caps
Evan Olmstead (Nissa, FR) 37 caps
Barnaby Waddell (Camborne, UK) 5 caps
BACK ROW
Tyler Ardron (Provence, FR) 40 caps
Mason Flesch (Newcastle Red Bulls, UK) 26 caps
Ethan Fryer (Peñarol, UR) 7 caps
Matthew Oworu (Biarritz, FR) 17 caps
Sion Perry (Ebbw Vale, UK) 21 caps
Lucas Rumball (Chicago Hounds) 70 caps
SCRUMHALF
Jason Higgins (Cork Constitution, IR) 32 caps
Jesse Kilgour (Aurora Barbarians) 3 caps
Stephen Webb (UBC Thunderbirds) 5 caps
FLYHALF
Jack Gore (Laurier Golden Hawks) uncapped
Spencer Jones (Nottingham, UK) 21 caps
CENTRE
Jacob Ince (Young Munster, IR) 5 caps
Ben LeSage (New England Free Jacks) 42 caps
Josh McIndoe (UVic Vikes) 3 caps
Isaac Olson (Ampthill, UK) 8 caps
WING
Nic Benn (Hawke’s Bay Magpies, NZ) 13 caps
Liam James (UBC Thunderbirds) 4 caps
Demetri Patterson (UBC Thunderbirds) uncapped
Kyle Tremblay (Westshore) 10 caps
FULLBACK
Takoda McMullin (UBCOB Ravens) 10 caps
Mitch Voralek (Waterloo County) uncapped
