With the Canadian Men’s XV preparing for their Rugby World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay, set to take place this weekend, it seems a fitting time to take a quick look back at the country’s performance in the tournament over the years.

Canada has appeared in every men’s Rugby World Cup since the event first began back in 1987 in New Zealand. We’ve become part of the furniture, an expected presence and one of only 12 countries in the world that can make that claim. That’s quite a feat in itself, considering the greater prominence of this great sport in other countries compared to Canada.

Over those eight years, we have won approximately 25% of all matches we’ve contested and reached a record high world ranking of 12th in 2011. We’ve scored a combined 527 points (120 of them by Gareth Rees) and scored 47 tries. We have played against a total of 12 different teams (can you name them all?) and had winning margins of more than 15 points on four separate occasions.

By far the best performance came at the 1991 Rugby World Cup (jointly hosted by The UK, Ireland and France). The team claimed wins over both Fiji and Romania and only narrowly lost to Pool D winners France. Despite losing the Quarter Final match against a ferocious New Zealand All Blacks, the Men’s XV raised the visibility of the Canadian game to worldwide audiences.

When Rugby turned professional after the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, many players from the Canadian national team were able to capitalise on being noticed at tournaments like the world cup and secure professional contracts in countries around the world. In the following tournament in 1999 in Wales, Canada made its highest points tally of any Rugby World Cup performance with a total of 114. In these first four tournaments, Canada never finished lower than 9th.

Since the turn of the millennium, the Canadian men’s team has continued to put in committed performances at Rugby World Cup tournaments. Increased levels of competition from surrounding tier two countries mean that the challenge grows every year.

Canada’s opponents at the weekend are no exception. Uruguay has only qualified for a total of three Rugby World Cup tournaments (1999, 2003 & 2015) and have never progressed beyond the Pool Stage of the event. Canada currently lead in the head to head statistics, winning 8 of the 10 encounters between the countries. However, the most recent clash, in the 2017 Americas Rugby Championships, saw Uruguay edge the game 17-13 at the Estadio Domingo Burgueño in Maldonado.

This weekend is another matter though. Taking place on Saturday 27th January at BC Place, this will be the first leg of a two-match qualifier against Uruguay. At stake, the Americas 2 spot at the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be held in Japan. This match is Canada's opportunity to stamp authority on the fixture and head into the second leg in Montevideo with a healthy advantage.

Tickets for Canada versus Uruguay on January 27 at BC Place can be purchased by clicking here





Canada’s Men’s Roster for the first leg of the 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier:

Tyler Ardron – (Chiefs/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON

Ray Barkwill – (Seattle Seawolves/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON

Brett Beukeboom – (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON

Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Connor Braid – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC

Hubert Buydens – (New Orleans Gold/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK

Luke Campbell – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC

Admir Cejvanovic – (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears) Burnaby, BC

Guiseppe du Toit – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Maple Ridge, BC

Andrew Ferguson – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON

Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys/Prairie Wolf Pack) Okotoks, AB

Matt Heaton – (Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock) Godmanchester, QC

Jake Ilnicki – (Newcastle Falcons/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC

Cole Keith – (James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock) Sussex, NB

Martial Lagain – (Sherbrooke Abenakis/Atlantic Rock) Saint-Jean-de-Marsacq, France

Josh Larsen – (Northland) Parksville, BC

Ben LeSage – (UBC Thunderbirds/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Kainoa Lloyd – (Mississauga Blues/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON

Anthony Luca – (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears) Burnaby, BC

Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC

Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB

Evan Olmstead – (Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack) Vancouver, BC

Patrick Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL

Taylor Paris – (Castres/Ontario Blues) Barrie, ON

Benoit Piffero – (Blagnac Sporting Club/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC

Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON

Djustice Sears-Duru – (Ealing Trailfinders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

Brock Staller – (Meralomas RFC/BC Bears) Surrey, BC

Matt Tierney – (Section Paloise/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

DTH van der Merwe – (Newcastle Falcons) Victoria, BC





Canada’s 2018 Americas Rugby Championship & RWC Qualifier schedule:

Canada vs. Uruguay

January 27th at 5pm local time (8pm ET)

BC Place, Vancouver, BC

*Rugby World Cup Qualifier round 1, ARC match 1*

Canada vs. Uruguay

February 3rd at 5pm local time (3pm ET/12pm PT)

Montevideo, Uruguay

*Rugby World Cup Qualifier round 2, not an ARC match*

Canada vs. USA

February 10th at 3pm local time

Sacramento, California

Canada vs. Brazil

February 17th at 6:30pm local time

Westhills Stadium, Langford, BC

Canada vs. Argentina XV

February 24th at 8pm local time

Jujuy, Argentina

Canada vs. Chile

March 3rd at 1pm local time

La Pintana, Santiago, Chile