Rugby Canada names 26-man under-18 squad for March tour of Ireland

TORONTO – Regina’s Mostyn Findlay will captain Canada’s under-18 rugby team on its tour of Ireland next month

The young Canadians leave March 22 for Ireland where they will face three Irish academy sides in eight days.

Canada will play a Munster Development XV on March 22, Connaught’s Development XV on March 26 and Leinster’s Development XV on April 2.

“This will be the biggest tests these players have ever had,” Canadian coach Dean Murten said in a release. “Three games in eight days will be challenging not only physically but mentally and emotionally.”

“The academy teams will be some of the best U18 players in the world,” he added. “Having spent many years in Ireland myself, I know these players will be highly skilled and play at a very fast pace. Having said all that, we have stopped talking about the opposition and have really started to focus on who we are and what we bring to the game.”

The touring roster contains 12 players from British Columbia, six from Ontario, four from Quebec, two from Saskatchewan, one from New Brunswick, Alberta and one player from Hong Kong with Canadian ties.

The team also features twins Jacob and Joshua Thiel, the sons of former Canadian international prop Jon Thiel.

Canada Roster

Marco II Cazza, Saint–Anicet, Que.; Michael Coldwells, Oakville, Ont.; Nicholas Davidson, St. John; Thomas Davidson, Chelsea, Que.; Nicholas De Lallo, Ottawa; Liam Doll, North Vancouver; Elias Ergas, Vancouver; Mostyn Findlay (capt.), Regina; Robert Freckelton, Uxbridge, Ont.; Nicholas Frost, West Vancouver; Fraser Hurst, Vancouver; Sebastian Iaricci, Laval, Que.; John Jubenville, Surrey, B.C.; William Kelly, Ancaster, Ont.; Aidan McMullan, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Que.; Liam Murray, Vancouver; Steven Ng, Ottawa; James O’ Neill, Cochrane, Alta.; Carson O’Sullivan, Buena Vista, Sask.; Seth Purdy, Mill Bay, B.C.; Dylan Parson, Caesarea, Ont,; Chan Jun Qian, Hong Kong; Benjamin Scher, Vancouver; Michael Smith, Surrey, B.C.; Jacob Thiel, Abbotsford, B.C.; Joshua Thiel, Abbotsford, B.C..