VANCOUVER — Mark Anscombe named a squad featuring both youth and experience for his first test matches as head coach of the Canadian men's rugby team.
The New Zealander has called up 12 players who took part in the 2015 Rugby World Cup for a three-game exhibition series that starts Saturday when No. 18 Canada hosts No. 10 Japan at B.C. Place Stadium.
"It's always exciting to get to the first game," Anscombe said in a release. "We've had a few weeks of preparation and have started developing some things and now the next level of excitement is getting to that first game and we're looking forward to it.
"The challenge is there in front of us to play well in front of a home crowd."
Jamie Cudmore, Ray Barkwill, Nick Blevins, Hubert Buydens, Aaron Carpenter, Matt Evans, Jake Ilnicki, Jamie Mackenzie, Gordon McRorie, Pat Parfrey, Evan Olmstead and Djustice Sears-Duru headline the team selections following a week-long training camp.
"The boys have come together really well," said Anscombe. "We've worked them hard, but they've put a lot into it and the attitude has been outstanding."
Kyle Baillie, Paul Ciulini, Alistair Clark, Andrew Ferguson, Eric Howard, Dan Moor, Cam Pierce, Lucas Rumball, Mozac Samson and Brock Staller all keep their places in the setup following strong performances in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship.
The squad also features three players yet to earn a test cap for Canada — Matt Heaton, Ben LeSage and Matt Tierney — while Taylor Paris, Tom Dolezel and Jordan Wilson-Ross return to the fold to round out the roster.
"We've been trying to find out about everyone the last few days and now we know what we're faced with," said Anscombe, who took over from Kieran Crowley in March. "We can now start moving forward and developing the group as a unit."
After the game with Japan, Canada will meet No. 19 Russia on June 18 in Calgary before facing No. 14 Italy in Toronto on June 26.
Saturday will mark the first men's international fifteens rugby match on the artificial turf at B.C. Place, which hosted the inaugural HSBC Canada Men's Sevens event earlier this year in front of more that 60,000 fans over two days.
Canada roster:
Kyle Baillie, Ohio/Atlantic Rock, Summerside, P.E.I.; Ray Barkwill Sacramento/Ontario Blues, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Nick Blevins, San Francisco/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary; Hubert Buydens, San Diego/Prairie Wolf Pack, Saskatoon; Aaron Carpenter, Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues, Brantford, Ont.; Paul Ciulini, Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues, Vaughan, Ont.; Alistair Clark, Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues, Oakville, Ont.; Jamie Cudmore, Oyonnax, Squamish, B.C.; Tom Dolezel, London St. George's/Ontario Blues, London, Ont.; Matt Evans, Cornish Pirates, Maple Bay, B.C.; Andrew Ferguson, Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues, Mississauga, Ont.; Matt Heaton, Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock, Godmanchester, Que.; Eric Howard, Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues, Ottawa; Jake Ilnicki, San Diego/BC Bears, Williams Lake, B.C.; Ben LeSage, UBC Thunderbirds/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary; Jamie Mackenzie, UBCOB Ravens/Ontario Blues, Oakville; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary; Dan Moor, Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues, Toronto; Evan Olmstead, Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack, Vancouver; Pat Parfrey, Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock, St. John's, N.L.; Taylor Paris, Agen, Barrie, Ont.; Cam Pierce, Section Paloise/Kelowna Crows, Vernon, B.C.; Lucas Rumball, Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues, Toronto; Mozac Samson, Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary; Djustice Sears-Duru, Glasgow Warriors/Ontario Blues, Oakville; Brock Staller, UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears, Vancouver; Matt Tierney, Section Paloise/Ontario Blues, Oakville; Jordan Wilson-Ross, James Bay AA/Ontario Blues, Alliston, Ont.
