Canadian rugby head coach Kingsley Jones has put his faith in a host of Island players in naming his 29-man roster ahead of what will be a crucial summer Test series.
The series is to prepare sa国际传媒 for the last-chance qualifier in November for the 20th and final berth into the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
The fleet-footed and elusive DTH Van der Merwe, out of the James Bay Athletic Association and the greatest international try scorer in Canadian history, will captain sa国际传媒 against Scotland on June 9 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, on June 16 against Russia at Twin Elm Rugby Park in Ottawa and June 23 against the U.S. Eagles at the Wanderers Ground in Halifax.
Plucky former captain Phil Mack of Victoria, also out of JBAA, will act as an assistant captain along with Tyler Ardron of Peterborough, Ont.
鈥淚t gives me an opportunity to give Phil [Mack] a break, and I want to try out captains ahead of the World Cup,鈥� Jones said in a statement.
鈥淎nd DTH is the obvious man at the moment. His commitment 鈥� despite being employed overseas in a professional club [Glasgow], makes him an obvious choice.
鈥淗e will be supported by [Mack and Ardron] and I look forward to working with DTH in that role. It鈥檚 a difficult one from the wing, but there鈥檚 no doubt he鈥檒l get that support from Phil and Tyler, who are close to the action on the field,鈥� Jones said.
Making the roster grade are Victoria鈥檚 Luke Campbell and Courtenay鈥檚 Noah Barker, along with their JBAA mate Cole Keith.
Others named include Dustin Dobravsky and Doug Fraser, both University of Victoria Vikes alumni with the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay, current UVic Vikes players Guiseppe du Toit and Conor Keys, Otago pro Josh Larsen from Parksville and Ryan Kotlewski of Westshore RFC.
The lone uncapped player selected is Theo Sauder from the UBC Thunderbirds, who really impressed in a trial game Saturday at Westhills Stadium for the sa国际传媒 Selects.
The Canadian roster is made up of 12 pros, both from overseas clubs and in the newly established North American Major League Rugby, and 17 players who are centralized at the Rugby sa国际传媒 training centre in Langford.
鈥淪election has been really tough. We鈥檝e had a few sleepless nights,鈥� said Jones.
鈥淏ut that is what you want as a coach. We need headaches 鈥� we need competition in every position. We鈥檙e building depth. This tour is as much about building depth as winning. We need to have that balance of experience, as well as some young guys, who deserve the opportunity.鈥�
The eyes have to be on the big prize, said Jones: 鈥淭his will create real depth for November, while also rewarding the players that have put in a lot of work here in Langford.鈥�
Several key players are missing, including Connor Braid of Victoria with the sevens team in London, and the injured cadre of Matt Evans of Duncan, pro and former CW star Ciaran Hearn, and Conor Trainor and Taylor Paris.
Having the latter players healthy and ready for November is more important, Jones said, than having them play this summer.
