Canada announce U18 tour to England

Twenty-four player have been selected to travel to England in April as Canada’s U18 team, to play against England U18s on April 5 and 9 at Bicton College in Devon.

“Our staff is really excited about the team we're taking to the UK for our series with England,” head coach Dan Valley said. “We're athletic, we're big, we're fast, and our skill development is continuing to improve. Although we don't know much about the England side we'll be competing with, the group we've selected will be able to play a style of rugby that is very much aligned with what Francois and his staff are looking for at the senior level.”

The tour follows the successful "Canada A" tour in December and is made up of squad from across Canada - nine players from Ontario, seven from British Columbia, six from Alberta and one each from Nova Scotia and Manitoba.

“This tour is a fantastic opportunity to expose this group of athletes to the physical and mental demands of an international test series,” Valley said. “To experience the process of preparation, performance, and analysis as well as reflection at this stage in their rugby careers will - as with everything we're trying to achieve with the program - set them up for success when they are asked to perform on the national U20 and senior stages."

A pool of 75 promising teenage players has been developing since last summer, with 58 of them involved in a week long training camp in Kingston, Ontario., last October, while others have been identified since October by National team staff and Provincial Unions. Players from the pool participated in five different regional camps that took place in January and the first week of February before Valley selected his squad of 24.

“I think it's really important to acknowledge the process that all 75 plus athletes committed to since being identified last summer,” Valley said. “They've put in a great deal of work and each one of them has demonstrated the potential to develop into very strong rugby players that can excel, either at the U18 level or beyond. Regardless of whether or not they're going on tour, as a development group, we're going to continue to move forward, and put in the weekly work to keep improving. Some of us will be going to England in April, some won't. The process of continual improvement doesn't change.”

Kickoff times and streaming details for both games have yet to be announced.

Canada U18 squad (Name, club, hometown):

Taylor Black (Oakville Crusaders), Oakville, ON; Tanika Bonneville (Bayside Sharks), Surrey, BC; Keegan Brantner (Lethbridge), Taber, AB; Mackenzie Carson (Abbotsford RFC), Abbotsford, BC ; Maddi Cohoon (Brantford Harlequins), Brantford, ON ; Sophie de Goede (Castaway Wanderers), Victoria, BC; Sydney De La Mare (St. Albert RFC), St. Albert, AB; Taylor Donato (Ottawa Irish), Ottawa, ON; Danika Elias (Abbotsford RFC), Chilliwack, BC; Brooklynn Feasby (Oshawa Vikings), Port Perry, ON; Dawson German (Comox Valley Kickers), Courtenay, BC; Daniella Grant (Aurora Barbarians), Stouffville, ON ; Taylour Hurd (Oakville Crusaders), Oakville, ON ; Annie Kennedy (Kingston Panthers), Kingston, ON ; Sarah Klock (Abbotsford RFC), Abbotsford, BC ; Alex Liepmann (Barrhaven Scottish), Ottawa, ON ; Emilie Merilainen (Belleville Bulldogs), Batawa, ON; Holly Phillips (Bow Valley Grizzlies), Canmore, AB; Kendra Roberts (Souris Sabres), Souris, MB; Sydney Smith (Valley Bulldogs), Middleton, NS ; Rylee Stone (Calgary Rams), Turner Valley, AB; Harley Tucker (Calgary Hornets), Black Diamond, AB ; Shaye Tudor (Castaway Wanderers), Victoria, BC; Darcie Weir (Calgary Irish), Strathmore, AB

Non-travelling reserves:

Jasmine Ing (Guelph Red Coats), Guelph, ON; Chanelle Lindegaard (Barrie RFC), Barrie, ON ; Natasha Naismith (Brampton Beavers), Orangeville, ON; Paige Olmstead (Red Deer Titans), Red Deer, AB; Nikki Pahl (Markham Irish), Markham, ON; Alayna Scramstad (Lashburn Lucky RFC), Lashburn, SK;

Staff:

Head Coach — Dan Valley; Assistant Coach — Duncan McNaughton; Assistant Coach — Ricky Coombe; Manager — Heather Vesh; Therapist — Amy Stefaniuk;

Schedule:

April 5 — Canada vs. England U18

April 9 — Canada vs. England U18