Canada will be learning on the run, literally, when it meets Uruguay in the opening Test of the Americas Rugby Championship on Feb. 6 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.

Interim Canadian head coach Francois Ratier, replacing the departed Kieran Crowley, has named 18 uncapped players to his 28-man long list. Camp opens Sunday at Shawnigan Lake School.

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The rookies include Gradyn Bowd and Liam Chisholm of the University of Victoria Vikes and Clay Panga from the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay.

“Our pros playing in Europe are not available, and our sevens players are away Down Under for the World Series [Wellington and Sydney Sevens] tournaments, so this is a good opportunity to find out about our next level of guys,” said Hall of Famer Gareth Rees of Victoria, manager of national team programs for Rugby Canada.

“They have been chomping at the bit, and will now get their chance. This is the start of a new cycle, toward qualifying play in 2017 for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.”

A lot will be riding on the shoulders of capped players such as Hubert Buydens, Jake Ilnickii and Ray Barkwill of CW, Gordon McRorie, Evan Olstead, Pat Parfrey, Djustice Sears-Duru and UVic Vikes-grad Phil Mackenzie to provide the calming veteran influence.

“Buydens and Barkwill were excellent for us in the [2015] World Cup,” said Rees.

“Now it’s a different challenge for them as leaders and mentors and to pass on their experience to the next generation.”

The six-foot-three and 260-pound prop Buydens will captain world No. 19 Canada against No. 20 Uruguay.

“A lot of the younger guys are getting the opportunity earlier than they would have. I am sure they will rise to the task,” said Buydens, the 39-time capped veteran, who takes on the Canadian captainship for the third time in his international career.

“The team will be looking to the capped guys from the World Cup [for stability].”

Canada is searching for a permanent replacement for Crowley, who is leaving to take on the head coaching position with a pro club in Italy, after guiding Canada through the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.

“Francois is more than capable,” said Buydens, of interim replacement Ratier, who also coaches the Canadian women’s team, leading it to the 2014 World Cup championship game in his native France.

Buydens noted Ratier was part of Crowley’s staff last summer during the Pacific Nations Cup Test matches in the South Pacific and has a familiarity with the national men’s program.

“Francois is very similar to Kieran in style and approach,” said Buydens.

Canada will also play world No. 42 Brazil on Feb. 20 at Westhills Stadium. The away Tests for Canada in the Americas Championship are in Houston against the world No. 16 U.S. Eagles on Feb. 13, at No. 5 Argentina on Feb. 28 and at No. 24 Chile on March 6.

Tickets for both the Uruguay and Brazil games at Westhills Stadium are on sale at http://events.rugbycanada.ca.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com

Twitter.com/tc_vicsports