Canada becomes first to announce final 30-man squad for 2011 Rugby World Cup
Former All Blacks’ international and World Cup winner, Kieran Crowley, has announced Canada’s final 30-man squad for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). International Rugby Board’s (IRB) deadline for the announcement of the final squad is August 22.
However, Canada has announced its final squad on Friday, July 8, to become the first country to name their final squad for 2011 RWC. The squad announced contains no foreign players, as some of Canada eligible players have club commitments overseas.
Canada’s head coach Crowley has termed the squad as the best available talent in the country and termed it as good combination of youth and experience, with 18-year-old Taylor Paris being the youngest in the squad. The squad contains 11 players that have
represented Canada in the 2007 RWC.
Commenting on including the young players, Crowley said, "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. A lot of these players will be available for the next World Cup.”
The final squad announced by the Crowley includes:
Props
Hubert Buydens (Saskatoon, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC)
Scott Franklin (Regina, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Castaway Wanderers)
Jason Marshall (Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Capilano)
Andrew Tiedemann (St. Albert, AB, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes)
Frank Walsh (St. John's, NL, The Rock/CRC, Vandals Rugby Club)
Hookers
Ryan Hamilton (Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes)
Pat Riordan (Burnaby, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Burnaby)
Second Row
Jamie Cudmore (Squamish, BC, ASM Clermont Auvergne/PRO, Capilano)
Brian Erichsen (Vancouver, BC, B.C. Bears/CRC, Meralomas)
Tyler Hotson (Vancouver, BC, Plymouth/PRO, UBC Old Boy Ravens)
Back Row
Aaron Carpenter (Brantford, ON, Plymouth Albion/PRO, Brantford Harlequins)
Nanyak Dala (Saskatoon, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Saskatoon Wild Oat)
Adam Kleeberger (White Rock,BC, Unattached, University of Victoria Vikes)
Jeremy Kyne (Wellington, NZ/Edmonton, AB, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Druids)
Chauncey O'Toole (Bell Isle, NB, The Rock/CRC, Castaway Wanderers)
Jebb Sinclair (Fredericton, NB, The Rock/CRC, Castaway Wanderers)
Backs
Scrum-halves
Ed Fairhurst (Victoria, BC, BC Bears/CRC, UBC Old Boy Ravens)
Jamie Mackenzie (Oakville, ON, Esher/PRO, Oakville Crusaders)
Sean White (Victoria, BC, BC Bears/CRC, James Bay AA)
Fly halves
Nathan Hirayama (Richmond, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes)
Ander Monro (Victoria, BC, Ontario Blues/CRC, Castaway Wanderers)
Centres
Ryan Smith (Calgary, AB, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Calgary Irish)
Conor Trainor (Victoria, BC, BC Bears/CRC, UBC Old Boy Ravens)
Phil Mackenzie (Oakville, ON, Esher/PRO, Oakville Crusaders)
Mike Scholz (Oakville, ON, Ontario Blues/CRC, Oakville Crusaders)
Wings
DTH van der Merwe (Victoria, BC, Glasgow Warriors/PRO, James Bay AA)
Ciaran Hearn (Conception Bay, NL, The Rock/CRC, Castaway Wanderers)
Taylor Paris (Barrie, ON, Ontario Blues/CRC, Markham Irish Canadians)
Fullbacks
Matt Evans (Duncan, BC, Cowichan RFC)
James Pritchard (Parkes, Australia, Bedford/PRO)
The 2011 RWC will be played in New Zealand and will start in September, later this year.
Tags: