VANCOUVER — Jamie Cudmore will captain the Canadian men's rugby team in Saturday's test match against Japan.
Head coach Mark Anscombe named seven other players who suited up for Canada at the 2015 Rugby World Cup to his first starting 15 since taking over the job in March, while the remaining seven took part in the recent 2016 Americas Rugby Championship.
Djustice Sears-Duru, Ray Barkwill and Jake Ilnicki will line up in the front row for Canada, which is ranked 18th in the world.
Cudmore will pair with Evan Olmstead at lock against No. 10 Japan, Kyle Baillie and Lucas Rumball get the nod as the flankers, while veteran Aaron Carpenter will start at No. 8 in the first men's international fifteens match ever played at B.C. Place Stadium.
Gordon McRorie gets the call at scrum-half with Pat Parfrey starting at fly-half. Taylor Paris will join Dan Moor on the wing, Nick Blevins and Brock Staller form the centre partnership, and Matt Evans starts at fullback.
There's also the potential for Matt Tierney and Matt Heaton to win their first test caps for Canada after being named to the bench.
Canada's roster (name, club, hometown):
1. Djustice Sears-Duru, Glasgow Warriors/Ontario Blues, Oakville, Ont
2. Ray Barkwill, Sacramento/Ontario Blues, Niagara Falls, Ont.
3. Jake Ilnicki, San Diego/BC Bears, Williams Lake, B.C.
4. Jamie Cudmore, Oyonnax, Squamish, B.C.
5. Evan Olmstead, Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack, Vancouver
6. Kyle Baillie, Ohio/Atlantic Rock, Summerside, P.E.I.
7. Lucas Rumball, Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues, Toronto
8. Aaron Carpenter, Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues, Brantford, Ont.
9. Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary
10. Pat Parfrey, Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock, St. John's, N.L.
11. Taylor Paris, Agen, Barrie, Ont.
12. Nick Blevins, San Francisco/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary
13. Brock Staller, UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears, Vancouver
14. Dan Moor, Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues, Toronto
15. Matt Evans, Cornish Pirates, Maple Bay, B.C.
16. Eric Howard, Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues, Ottawa
17. Tom Dolezel, London St. George's/Ontario Blues, London, Ont.
18. Matt Tierney, Section Paloise/Ontario Blues, Oakville
19. Paul Ciulini, Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues, Vaughan, Ont.
20. Matt Heaton, Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock, Godmanchester, Que.
21. Alistair Clark, Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues, Oakville
22. Jamie Mackenzie, UBCOB Ravens/Ontario Blues, Oakville
23. Mozac Samson, Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack, Calgary
