Rugby Canada says players were identified and selected for the long list via their participation in university and club competition and tournaments, past performance with Canada’s age-grade programs, and recommendations from provincial coaches.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
Canadian under-20 men’s rugby coach Christiaan Esterhuizen has named a 54-man roster for a training camp starting later this week ahead of a tour to Fiji later this year.
The group will assemble in Vancouver on Thursday, and will train at Vancouver’s St. George’s School before wrapping up the camp Sunday with an intrasquad game.
Rugby Canada said players were identified and selected for the long list via their participation in university and club competition and tournaments such as the U-19 Canadian Rugby Championship, past performance with Canada’s age-grade programs and recommendations from provincial coaches.
“We are excited to gather our players and staff in Vancouver and get the year started with our U-20 programming,” Esterhuizen said in a statement. “Our staff have been impressed with the dedication and eagerness of our players already. I have seen them in action over the last few months in a variety of competitions, stretching from the Canadian Rugby Championships in Nova Scotia all the way to Vancouver Island.
“While some of our players based abroad will not be able to attend this short camp, we are also delighted to have players competing in strong competitions in countries like Ireland, Scotland, England and Australia and furthering their rugby development before joining us later in the year.”
Esterhuizen will be joined in Vancouver by Canada’s senior team defence coach John McFarland as well as fellow coaches Cory Hector (University of Guelph), Paddy Watson (Balmy Beach RFC and the University of Toronto) and Conor Turner (strength and conditioning coach).
Sunday’s intrasquad scrimmage will also feature coaches Didier Banhe and Bruce Rainer (UBC), Andy Evans (Trinity Western University), Aaron Takel (Collingwood School), Bill Chamberlain (St. George’s School) and Graeme Moffatt (University of Lethbridge).