Canada announce their 30-man squad prior to the August deadline
Canada has revealed its selection for the fast approaching seventh Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011), scheduled to take place in September -October, in New Zealand.
With the hype and anticipation for this forthcoming 20-nation mega event mounting up, the number of spectators for RWC 2011 in New Zealand is around 70,000. The RWC 2011, is planned to kick off over the weekend, September 10, and will spread over the seven
consecutive weekends, with the final on October 22, at Eden Park, in Auckland.
With this announcement Canada has officially become the first team to go for the final squad announcement, for which the official deadline is August 22. It has been recognized as Canada’s best selection to-date with the squad which is a splendid mix of 30
brilliant players.
Kieran Crowley, the coach of the Canadian rugby team since 2008 and the former full-back of All Blacks is already receiving rave reviews regarding his pick of the 30-man squad, which is scheduled face the rugby giants; New Zealand, Japan, France and Tonga
in the Pool A. Crowley, the world cup wining member of New Zealand in 1987 has 11 members from the 2007 Rugby World Cup wining squad in France, where Pat Riordan, the captain and hooker; Anders Monro, the vice captain and fly-half and DTH van der Merwe,
the wing of the Canadian squad on board.
Talking about his selection Crowley stated, “It’s been an exhaustive process that we really started three years ago. We used everything at our disposal to get where we have and it’s probably the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve been able to take
Canada’s best team.”
There is a young recruit in the 30-man squad; Taylor Paris will turn 19 this September. He will take up the wing’s spot in the team and has already been capped thrice since his introduction in rugby in November, 2010.
The forward pack of the Canadian squad includes; Pat Riordan,Ryan Hamilton, Hubert Buydens, Jason Marshall, Scott Franklin, Andrew Tiedemann, Jamie Cudmore, Tyler Hotson, Brian Erichsen, Aaron Carpenter, Adam Kleeberger, Nanyak Dala, Jeremy Kyne, Jebb Sinclair
and Chauncey O'Toole.
The back pack of the squad includes; Jamie Mackenzie, Ed Fairhurst, Nathan Hirayama, Sean White, Ander Monro, Conor Trainor, Ryan Smith, Phil Mackenzie, DTH van der Merwe, Ciaran Hearn, Mike Scholz, Taylor Paris, James Pritchard and Matt Evans.
Furthermore while explaining his choices regarding experienced players and young recruits Crowley stated, “A lot of these players will be available for the next World Cup .Youth brings excitement, but you’ve also got to have that experience in the squad.
We’re pretty happy with the balance we’ve found.”
The Canadian squad which has been disclosed well ahead of the deadline in August is a perfect amalgam of fresh blood and experience. Before this squad hits the RWC 2011, it will encounter its rival USA and then march into the training camps in Australia,
which will grant them with ample opportunity to prepare their 30-man RWC squad.
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