Developmental Canadian side opens play at the Americas Pacific Challenge

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Kyle Gimour will captain Canada ‘A’ against Argentina XV at the Americas Pacific Challenge on Saturday.

The six-team rugby tournament also features developmental sides from Uruguay, the U.S. Samoa and Tonga.

“Argentina, whether it’s the Pumas, Jaguars or XV side, are known for playing a wide, expansive brand of rugby with a lot of decoy runners and offloads and we’re going to have to be ready for that,” Canada coach Mike Shelley said in a statement.

Canada opened last year’s tournament with a 56-29 loss to an Argentine side, with five returnees – Adrian Wadden, Conor Keys, Pat Parfrey, Lucas Rumball and Guiseppe du Toit – in the starting lineup for Saturday’s game.

The Canadian men plays Tonga ‘A’ on Oct. 11 and the U.S. Selects on Oct. 15.

Canada ‘A’

Hubert Buydens, New Orleans Gold, Saskatoon; Martial Lagain, Sherbrooke Abenakis, Saint-Jean-de-Marsacq, France; Cole Keith, Bellesile Rovers, Sussex, N.B.; Adrian Wadden, Leeds Beckett University, Mississauga, Ont.; Conor Keys, UVIC Vikes, Stittsville, Ont.; Kyle Gilmour (capt.), St. Albert RFC, St. Albert, Alta.; Lucas Rumball, Balmy Beach RFC, Mississauga, Ont.; Travis Larsen, James Bay AA, Vancouver; Andrew Ferguson, Oakville Crusaders, Mississauga, Ont.; Patrick Parfrey, Swilers RFC, St. John’s, N.L.; Brett Johnson, Truro Saints, Truro, N.S.; Guiseppe du Toit, UVIC Vikes, Maple Ridge, B.C.; Mike Nieuwenhuysen, Brampton Beavers RFC, Brampton, Ont.; Conor Desmond, Calgary Irish, Rideau Ferry, Ont.; Aidan McMullan, St. Anne-de-Bellevue RFC, Montreal.

Replacements

Eric Howard, Brantford Harlequins, Ottawa; Rob Brouwer, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Ryan Kotlewski, Westshore RFC, Calgary; Liam Chisholm, Castaway Wanderers, Kenora, Ont.; Dustin Dobravsky, Castaway Wanderers, Hanover, Germany; Jorden Sandover-Best, UBC Old Boys Ravens, Vancouver; Robbie Povey, Castaway Wanderers, Northampton, England; Kainoa Lloyd, Mississauga Blues, Mississauga, Ont.