CANADA SET FOR WORLD SCHOOL 7S IN AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Canada has sent a U18/U19 boy’s team to Auckland for the World School Rugby 7s tournament in Auckland this weekend.

Unfortunately, there is no live stream for the tournament; updates will be made available via the tournament’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/World-Schools-7s-190133104782335/

Notes from Head Coach Fred Asselin:

“After a couple days of training with the Canadian U18/U19 squad at the World School 7s we are settling in at the historic sacred heart college in Auckland where numerous All Black made their youth debut.

“We are training two times a day with recuperation sessions and are learning how to become young professionals and gain valuable playing experience. They are also getting sightseeing opportunities as they went and toured the prestigious and brand new state-of-the-art Auckland Blues training facility and watched a training session from one of the Super Rugby Teams. The players also got the chance meet with staff and some of the players, including All Black young sensation Winger Rieko Ioane. Thursday they will have their first opportunity to test their skills against the Cook Islands in a warm up game and to fine tune and test their playing patterns.

“With the great leadership of Lockie Kratz from Victoria and Jarvis Dashkewytch from Tsawwassen, they are going to have their work cut out for them against opposition that are all from the Southern Hemisphere. The pool play will be against Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand Condors, a select all-star team from the high-school championships.

“The experience these boys are going to gain here will carry them through their rugby careers. They are the only Northern hemisphere team and they should be very proud of that. 

“I'm a very competitive coach but I'm also realistic, and know that all of the games will be very challenging. We have a goal of improving our structure and creating opportunities throughout the tournament. As I told the boys one game at a time and that they have a whole nation that believes in them.

“When you think that most rugby players around here start at 5 years old, and are playing international rugby by the age of 18/19 years old it is very new experience for our young athletes to play against such experienced young rugby players.

“Our team has great athletes and a mix of experience and youthfulness so we can expect them to represent Canada very proudly.”

Canada’s World School 7s Schedule on day one:

(Friday in Canada)

Canada vs. NZ Tongans – 4:12pm ET/1:12pm PT
Canada vs. Samoa Barbarians – 6pm ET/3pm PT
Canada vs. NZ Condors – 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT

ROSTER 

1. Juma Amisi, Strathcona Druids (Edmonton, AB)
2. Daniel Damron, (Surrey, BC)
3. Jarvis Dashkewytch, Castaway Wanderers (Tsawwassen, BC)
4. Kaleb Delaney, Oakville Crusaders (Oakville, ON)
5. Lachlan Kratz, Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)
6. Sherwin Phillips, Sir Wifred Laurier Collegiate (Toronto, ON)
7. Austin Pinnell, Nor’westers (Edmonton, AB)
8. EJ Rerri, Oakville Crusaders (Oakville, ON)
9. Jack Shaw, Oakville Crusaders (Oakville, ON)
10. Sief Sanad, (Bedford, NS)
11.  Bobby Turley, Balmy Beach RFC (Toronto, ON)
12.  Brock Webster, Oshawa (Uxbridge, ON)

STAFF 

Head Coach:  Fred Asselin
Manager: Meaghan Howat
Medical: Jalin Couper