LANGFORD, BC (July 23, 2019) - Rugby Canada has named the 24-man roster for the Canadian University All-Star team that will take on the Collegiate All-Americans on Saturday, July 27. The game takes place at 5pm ET/ 2pm PT at Infinity Park and will serve as the curtain raiser for the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup Canada vs USA match.

The University All Star match is a new concept that Rugby Canada and USA Rugby have developed in collaboration, with a view to making it an annual event that provides additional opportunities for university players primarily between the ages of 20-24. In keeping with Rugby Canada’s development and performance objectives, this initiative serves as an important building block for Canada’s young emerging University players by contributing to their growth and development in a competitive setting.

The 2019 team is made up of players from a total of 8 different universities, some of whom are either part of a national team program, or have been part of Canadian age-grade teams in the past. The head coaching duties are being carried out by Queens University Head Coach Dave Butcher, who runs a highly successful university rugby program that went undefeated in the 2018 regular season, and captured the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championship title. Butcher was named 2018 OUA Coach of the Year, and has been selected to lead the group of Canadian University All Stars based on his proven leadership as well as his first-hand experience and knowledge of Rugby Canada’s development and performance objectives.

“I feel this is a very important program to give athletes in the Varsity system an opportunity to play high level rugby and feel this will become an important piece in the development and identification pathway for men’s rugby in Canada,” said Butcher.

“There is a lot of excitement around this team and the potential for these athletes to feed not only the Senior Canadian Men’s team but also go on to be involved in programs like the Pacific Pride and the Toronto Arrows.”

This game will not be available for viewing in Canada but scores will be updated on Rugby Canada's channels. The team returns to Canada on Sunday, July 28th.

Canada's Roster:

Julian Alexander- Concordia

Connor Byron- UBC

Charles Debove- Concordia

Riley Dinardo- Guelph

Josh Engelbrecht- Queen's

Matt Fish- Wilfred Laurier

Ethan Hager- UVIC

Trevor Helgason- Queens

Flynn Heyes- UBC

Nolan Howell- UBC

Sam Ibbotson- Queens

Izzak Kelly- UBC

Pat Lynott- Queens

Jackson Marquardt- Concordia

Stephen Martinez- Concordia

Jack McCarthy- STFX

Jack McRogers- McMaster

Conor O'Flaherty- UBC

James O'Neill- UVIC

Cully Quirke- Queens

Max Radcliffe- UBC

Mitch Richardson- McMaster

Sam Turner- UBC

Marcello Wainwright- Guelph

Canadian University All-Stars vs Collegiate All-Americans

July 27

Infinity Park – Glendale, Colorado

Kick-off: 5pm ET/ 2pm PT

Pacific Nations Cup Match:

Canada vs. USA

July 27

Infinity Park – Glendale, Colorado

Kick-off: 8pm ET/ 5pm PT

Broadcast: TBC