The Langford-based Canadian men’s rugby team continues its quest to return to respectability in what will be a telling Test match today against Spain at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa (1 p.m. PT on TSN).
sa国际传媒 failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, marking the first time it will not appear in the showcase. The long-term goal now is the 2027 World Cup and to climb out of the abyss of the third tier and back into the second tier of rugby-playing nations. World No. 21 sa国际传媒 must beat nations such as No. 15 Spain in order to do so.
Surprising Spain is an intriguing case study of a nation that has moved up from the third tier to the second tier, but not without its issues. Spain qualified for the 2023 World Cup but was later disqualified for using an ineligible player. Several of its top players can’t play today due to vaccination status, according to The Canadian Press.
If ever there was a national side that looked prime for defeat, it appears to be Spain today, so sa国际传媒 should be looking to.
“[Spain] are ranked No. 15 in the world and our aim is to get back in the Top 20, so this is an opportunity for us to test ourselves against an extremely competent opponent,” sa国际传媒 head coach Kingsley Jones, of Sooke, said in a statement.
“We expect it to be a very competitive, hard-fought contest. We’ve prepared well this week and with the support of the home Ottawa crowd behind us, we’re going into the game with confidence that we can perform and get the result we’re after, which would secure us crucial world ranking points.”
Canadian starters today will include University of Victoria Vikes graduate Jake Ilnicki of the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay, former UVic player Conor Keys and two Major League Rugby players from Victoria in Quinn Ngwati of United New York and Luke Campbell of Old Glory D.C. Lucas Rumball of the MLR Toronto Arrows will captain the Canadian side. Available off the bench will be Gradyn Bowd of the Castaway Wanderers and Dawson Fatoric from the Langford-based Pacific Pride U-23 development team.
sa国际传媒 is coming off a 45-0 victory over world No. 26 Belgium last weekend in Halifax.
In women’s rugby, meanwhile, No. 4 sa国际传媒 will play No. 6 Italy in a Test match July 24 at Starlight Stadium in Langford with both national sides preparing for the 2022 World Cup from Oct. 8 to Nov. 12 in New Zealand.
