Canada Men’s Rugby XV Squad Announced for 2026 Japan Tour

The Canada Men’s XV team are heading to Japan for a one-off Test against the Brave Blossoms before they face Fiji in the 2026 Pacific Nations Cup in September – Canada’s Men’s Head Coach Stephen Meehan has named his 32-man squad.

The team will have a week-long training camp in Japan before their Test against the Brave Blossoms, which will mark JRFU’s 100th anniversary match on Saturday, September 5 at Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata City. Japan hosted Canada for their first-ever Test match in Osaka on January 31, 1932

The Canadians will then compete against Fiji in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semifinal on Saturday, September 12 at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka.

The reduced PNC this year allows for the international calendar competitions aligned with the inaugural Nations Championship and World Rugby Nations Cup, said Rugby Canada.

In their 2026 Nations Cup matches, they drew with Spain 42-42, lost to Portugal 14-38 and beat Zimbabwe 23-19.

Canada Head Coach Stephen Meehan said via Canada Rugby, “We’ve had a good amount of players travelling to Japan join us in Langford as part of our soft centralisation program, and that extra time together has been hugely beneficial.”

He added, “It’s allowed us to work on key skills, set-piece detail and conditioning, while building stronger connections as a group. The response from the players has been fantastic, and being alongside the women’s camp has added great energy to the environment.

There are still opportunities within the squad, and the door isn’t closed. We want players who understand how we want to play, show intent and take responsibility for their development. There are plenty of opportunities to ask questions, learn and engage with the coaches, and I’d be disappointed if someone missed selection because they didn’t take them.

We want proactive, committed players who are willing to compete and take their opportunities. This is about proving what we’re capable of and showing that we can become a much more threatening team.”

When Japan and Canada last played in the PNC in 2025, the Brave Blossoms ran out as 57-15 winners on August 30th at Yurtec Stadium.

Canada Men’s Rugby XV Squad – Japan 2026 Tour

There are 5 uncapped players in the 32-man group: Jamie Armstrong (Ottawa Irish), Bryce Worden (Burnaby Lake RFC / West Harbour Rugby Club), Sam Turner (Meralomas RFC / Clifton RFC ), Ryan Cozens (Sidmouth RFC / Reading Rams) and Jack Gore (Oakville Crusaders / Wilfrid Laurier University).

Jack Gore was the 2025 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship Rookie of the Year playing with Wilfrid Laurier University.

Players such as Evan Olmstead (Nissa Rugby – Top 14), Tyler Ardron (Castres – Top 14), and Andrew Quattrin (Valence Romans – Pro D2) are unavailable for selection due to club commitments.

Forwards

Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA (10 caps)
Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Cobras Brasil (3 caps)
*Ryan Cozens (Sidmouth, ENG) – Sidmouth RFC / Reading Rams (0 caps)
Foster Dewitt (Courtenay, BC) – Westshore RFC / Peñarol Rugby (7 caps)
Daragh Doyle (Québec City, QC) – Clontarf FC (2 caps)
Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (23 caps)
Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, WA) – Eastside Lions RFC / Peñarol Rugby (5 caps)
Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / SL Benfica (16 caps)
Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Rotherham Titans (15 caps)
Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Benfica SL (7 caps)
Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, Ontario) – University of British Columbia (2 caps)
Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (19 caps)
Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC (8 caps)
Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach Rugby Club / Chicago Hounds (67 caps)
Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Hunter Wildfires (8 caps)
*Sam Turner (Vancouver, BC) – Meralomas RFC / Clifton RFC (0 caps)
Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Camborne RFC (2 caps)
*Bryce Worden (Sussex, NB) – Burnaby Lake RFC / West Harbour Rugby Club (0 caps)

Backs

*Jamie Armstrong (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish (0 caps)
Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC / UVIC Vikes (23 caps)
*Jack Gore (Mississauga, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Wilfrid Laurier University (0 caps)
Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution (30 caps)
Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Guelph Gryphons / Taranaki Rugby (2 caps)
Liam James (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / UBCOB Ravens (2 caps)
Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys (17 caps)
Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Barrie RC / Aurora Barbarians (1 cap)
Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks (39 caps)
Josh McIndoe (Victoria, BC) — Castaway Wanderers / UVIC Vikes (2 caps)
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (7 caps)
Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) – Castaway Wanderers (7 caps)
Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC (7 caps)
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto City RC / University of British Columbia (3 caps)

*Denotes potential debut

Non-Travelling Reserves

Evan Roy (Ottawa, ON) – University of Ottawa / Mount Maunganui Rugby Club (0 caps)
Neil Trainor (Stratford, ON) – James Bay AA (0 caps)
Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Peñarol Rugby (14 caps)
Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC (14 caps)
Henry Kirwan (Brighton, ENG) – Brighton Blues / Reading Rams (0 caps)
Lockie Kratz (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers (2 caps)
Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC (38 caps)
Oliver Wiseman (Chiswick, UK) – Chinnor RFC (0 caps)

Canada Men’s XV Staff

Stephen Meehan – Head Coach
Anthony Mathison – Forwards Coach
Callum Gibbins – Defence Coach
Aaron Frisby – Skills Coach
Dr. Ryan Hamilton – Mental Performance Coach
Richard Andrews – HP Program Analyst
John Cunningham – Team S&C Coach
Scott Shannon – Team Therapist
Ally Govier – Assistant Therapist
Jordan Monks – Assistant Therapist
Dr. Billy Longland – CMO / Team Doctor
Dr. Hendrik Boshoff – Team Doctor
Maxine O’Leary – Media Manager
Neil MacDougall – Manager

Canada Men’s XV Schedule – Japan Tour 2026

• Japan vs Canada – Saturday, September 5, 2026  – Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata City
• Canada vs Fiji – Pacific Nations Cup – Saturday, September 12 – Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka
• Third Place Play-Off & Final – Pacific Nations Cup – Saturday, September 19 – Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo

Asian Rugby News 2026

• JRFU Appoint Toshizumi Kitagawa As the New Sakura XV Head Coach Before WXV 2026.
• Match Official Appointments for 2026 WXV Global Series and Challenger Confirmed.
• Brave Blossoms 2026 Home Tests and Venues Confirmed.
• Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026.