The Prairie Wolf Pack have named a squad of 31 players to compete in the 2018 Canadian Rugby Championship. It’s a much-changed group from their exhibition match against the Utah Warriors with eight Canadian internationals added along with a handful of CRC veterans.

Two professionals have returned from a season in Major League Rugby. New Orleans Gold prop Hubert Buydens bolsters the front row and powerful midfielder Mozac Samson is in the picture after winning the inaugural MLR title with the Seattle Seawolves. Centre options will be plentiful with incumbent Canada combo Nick Blevins and Ben LeSage also included.

There are options at flyhalf with Gradyn Bowd and Robbie Povey both capped. Up-and-coming winger Cole Davis is certain to start after impressing during the Americas Rugby Championship, and Ryan Kotlewski will anchor the scrum at tighthead prop.

National u20 captain James O’Neill is set to start at openside flanker with scrumhalf Brock Gallagher also in the hunt for a spot in the World Rugby u20 Trophy squad. Conor Turner is back to partner Riley Fahlman in an heavyweight engine room, and No8 Grant Crowell will be keen to continue his rise after appearing for the Canada XV against the Ontario Arrows in May.

The four-match tournament beings at Calgary Rugby Park on Friday when the Wolf Pack host the BC Bears. A detailed fixture and squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS

Gareth Brown (Nor’Westers), Hubert Buydens (Saskatoon Wild Oats / New Orleans Gold), Jake Horton (Calgary Canucks), Logan Jones (Calgary Canucks), Ryan Kotlewski (Calgary Saints / Westshore), Gabriel Kajdy (Calgary Canucks), Marko Klimenko (UofM Wombats), Tyler Rockwell (Bow Valley Grizzlies / James Bay), Riley Fahlman (Regina Campion Grads / Burnaby Lake), Joshua Pritchett (Calgary Rams), Conor Turner (Calgary Hornets), FJ Bronkhorst (Calgary Canucks), Grant Crowell (Calgary Rams), Connor Gilbert (Bow Valley Grizzlies), Kyle Morrison (Nor’Westers), James O’Neill (Calgary Canucks / UVic Vikes), Jordan Roberts (St. Albert)

BACKS

Mark Discombe (Regina Rogues / Westshore), Brock Gallagher (Strathcona Druids / James Bay), Braydon Goldstein (Saskatoon Badgers), Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer Titans / UVic Vikes), Robbie Povey (Calgary Hornets / Castaway Wanderers), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Dalton Campbell (Calgary Hornets / Guelph Gryphons), Ben LeSage (Calgary Canucks / UBC Thunderbirds), Mozac Samson (Calgary Saints / Seattle Seawolves), Jake Bentley (Calgary Canucks), Adam Bontus (St. Albert), Cole Davis (Calgary Saints), Cam Hall (Strathcona Druids), Evan Thomas (Lep-Tigers)

STAFF

Head Coach – Col Jeffs

Assistant Coach – Tyler Hawes

Assistant Coach – Simon Dodd

Assistant Coach – Jeremy Kyne

Manager – Jim Kazakoff

Assistant Manager – Jo Reinbold

Athletic Therapist – Nicole Ainsworth

Athletic Therapist – Charlotte Van Audenrode