Rugby World Cup team profile: Canada
The Canada national rugby union team, also known as ‘The Canucks’, are placed in Pool A of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Besides Canada, the other teams in Pool A are France, Japan, New Zealand and Tonga.
As of July 11, Canada is ranked 16 in the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Rankings. This is the Canada’s seventh consecutive RWC appearance. In their earlier appearance, Canada’s best performance came in the 1991 RWC in which they reached the quarter-finals
of the showpiece event. However, their performance in the 2007 RWC was their worst performance in the global tournament to date.
Canada is one of the powerhouses of Rugby in the Americas and is only second to Argentina. They secured their place in the 2011 RWC by defeating the USA Eagles in an aggregate score of 47 – 30.
The Canucks have recently participated in the ninth edition of the 2011 Churchill Cup, where they reached the Final stage of the cup. They lost the title match to England Saxons but won their other two pool matches against Tonga and Russia.
Canada became the first team to announce their final 30-man squad for the 2011 RWC. The team announced does not include any player who is playing rugby in a foreign club. This was a decision that was taken by former All Blacks international, Kieran Crowley,
who is serving as head coach.
Australian born James Pritchard is considered to be Canada’s most notable rugby player. His most memorable performance came against the USA Eagles in 2006, in which he scored 36 points which comprised three tries, three penalties and six conversions.
Al Charron with his 76 appearances is Canada’s most capped man. Winston Stanley and Scott Stewart with their 64 appearances followed him closely. Stanley with his 23 tries is Canada’s top try scorer. Martin Williams and Pritchard are placed at 2nd and 3rd
place with 13 and 12 tries respectively. Gareth Rees with 487 points is the Canada’s highest point scorer and Bobby Ross and Pritchard follow him with 407 and 346 points.
Canada is not favourites to qualify for the second round of the 2011 RWC, particularly with their relatively in experienced side. They are expected to win over the Japan, and will have to do exceptionally well to beat the Tongan side.
The Canada’s 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC includes:
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), Ryan Hamilton (Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes), Pat Riordan (Burnaby, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Burnaby), 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), 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), 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), Nathan Hirayama (Richmond, BC, BC Bears/CRC,
University of Victoria Vikes), Ander Monro (Victoria, BC, Ontario Blues/CRC, Castaway Wanderers), 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), 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), Matt Evans (Duncan, BC, Cowichan RFC), James Pritchard (Parkes, Australia, Bedford/PRO).
Tags: