Canada head coach Kieran Crowley has announced his starting roster for Canada's final match of the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) against Japan in Nagoya.
For the second time this month the Gaels
Liam Underwood (Toronto) was announced as part of the starting lineup at flyhalf. Underwood has seen action against Tonga and Ireland over the past month, coming off the bench in each match.
Wednesday will mark the fifth cap for Underwood and his second test start. Underwood had a standout season at Queen's in 2012 winning an OUA Championship and being named a co-winner of the Offensive Performer of the Year award given to the top athlete at Queen's from the school year.
Currently sitting atop the PNC standings, Canada has the opportunity to close out their inaugural appearance in the tournament as champions on Wednesday when they kick-off against Japan at Mizuho Rugby Ground. Following a defeat to Ireland on Saturday evening in Toronto, Canada travelled to Nagoya on Sunday afternoon.
Crowley's side remains perfect in the competition with wins over the USA, Fiji and Tonga. The men opened the PNC in Edmonton last month with a 16-9 victory over the USA, before besting Fiji 20-18 in Ottawa and Tonga 36-27 in Kingston.
James Pritchard made Canadian rugby history as Canada suffered their first loss of the summer to Ireland at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday night. Pritchard, who made three of four penalty kicks against the Irish, surpassed Gareth Rees as all-time leading scorer with 494points in his international career. With the start on Wednesday, Pritchard will receive his 50th cap for Canada.
Three young players have the potential to receive their first cap, as Aaron Flagg, Cam Pierce and Mike Fuailefau are on the bench.
The game will be broadcast on www.irb.com with kick off scheduled for 7:10pm local time in Japan.
Canada's Roster for Japan Match - (Club, CRC Team) Hometown
#1 - Hubert Buydens, (Saskatoon Wild Oats/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
#2 - Ryan Hamilton, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
#3 - Jason Marshall, (Atlantique Stade Rochelais/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
#4 - Jon Phelan, (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
#5 - Brett Beukeboom, (Plymouth Albion) Lindsay, ON
#6 - Tyler Ardron, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
#7 - Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
#8 - Aaron Carpenter, Captain, (Cornish Pirates) Brantford, ON
#9 - Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
#10 - Liam Underwood, (Queen's University/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
#11 - Taylor Paris, (SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne) Barrie, ON
#12 - Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
#13 - Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL
#14 - James Pritchard, (Bedford Blues) Parkes, Australia, NSW
#15 - Connor Braid, (Doncaster Knights RFC/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
#16 - Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
#17 - Tom Dolezel, (London St. George's/Ontario Blues) London, ON
#18 - Andrew Tiedemann, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
#19 - Cam Pierce, (Kelowna Crows RFC) Coldstream, BC
#20 - Aaron Flagg, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
#21 - Eric Wilson, (Meralomas RFC) Vancouver, BC
#22 - Mike Fuailefau, (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
#23 - Pat Parfrey, (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John's, NL
Rugby Canada's 2013 Match Schedule:
CANADA vs. USA
Saturday May 25th, 2013
Canada 16 – 9 USA
Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton, AB
CANADA vs. FIJI
Wednesday, June 5th, 2013
Canada 20 – 18 Fiji
Twin Elm Rugby Park, Ottawa, ON
CANADA vs. TONGA
Saturday, June 8th, 2013
Canada 36 – 27 Tonga
Richardson Stadium, Queen's University, Kingston, ON
CANADA vs. IRELAND
Saturday, June 15th, 2013
Canada 14 – 40 Ireland
BMO Field, Toronto, ON
JAPAN vs. CANADA
Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
Kick off @ 7:10pm local time
Mizuho Rugby Ground, Nagoya, Japan
USA vs. CANADA
World Cup Qualifier – Match #1
Saturday, August 17th, 2013
Kick off @ TBA
Charleston, South Carolina
CANADA vs. USA
World Cup Qualifier – Match #2
Saturday, August 24th, 2013
Kick off @ 4pm ET
BMO Field, Toronto, ON
LIVE on TSN
CANADA vs. NZ MAORI
Sunday, November 3rd, 2013
Kick off @ 1pm ET
BMO Field, Toronto, ON
LIVE on TSN
With files from Rugby Canada
