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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Former captain Tyler Ardron returns to Canada rugby lineup for first time since 2021
Canada's Tyler Ardron, right, tries to block the kick by Italy's Callum Braley during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match in Fukuoka, western Japan, Thursday, Sept. 26, CANADIAN PRESS/Kyodo News via AP Former captain Tyler Ardron returns to the Canadian rugby lineup up for the first time in almost four years on Friday when Canada hosts the United States in Calgary in the Pacific Nations Cup. The tournament marks the start of World Cup qualifying for the 25th-ranked Canadian men and 16th-ranked Americans. Ardron won the last of his 38 caps in October 2021 when Canada lost a two-match World Cup qualifier against Chile 54-46 on aggregate. That loss consigned Canada -- which was beaten 59-50 on aggregate by the U.S. in an earlier two-game qualifying series -- to the sidelines at the World Cup for the first time. The 34-year-old Ardron, a native of Peterborough, Ont., who plays in France for Castres Olympique, has been brought back into the fold by new Canada coach Steve Meehan. Ardron will line up at No. 8 between captain Lucas Rumball and Matt Oworu. 'The effort and understanding the team has shown in training has been very good,' Meehan said in a statement. 'Competition for (the) starting 15 and reserves was high and this demonstrates the depth we're building. 'It's now time to execute what we've practised. This begins on Friday evening in the Pacific Nations Cup with a strong performance against the U.S.A.' The Pacific Nations Cup, which also features No. 9 Fiji, No. 13 Samoa, No. 14 Japan and No. 19 Tonga, will send three teams to the 2027 World Cup, which is being hosted by No. 6 Australia. Fiji and Japan have already qualified by virtue of their performance at the 2023 tournament, so a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it. Also Friday, Tonga hosts Samoa in Nuku'alofa in Pool A play. Canada will complete Pool B play against Japan in Sendai on Aug. 30. The semifinals and fifth-versus-sixth game are scheduled for Sept. 14 in Denver with the championship and third-place game Sept. 20 in Salt Lake City. Canada finished sixth in last year's Pacific Nations Cup, beaten 30-17 by Tonga after group stage losses to the U.S. (28-15) and Japan (55-28) Meehan's matchday 23 features 18 players from Major League Rugby including 12 in the starting 15. There are six players from the MLR-champion New England Free Jacks and five from the Chicago Hounds including captain Lucas Rumball. Seattle Seawolves prop Dewald Kotze, a 28-year-old from Edmonton, gets his first start while University of British Columbia scrum half Stephen Webb earn his first cap off the bench. Webb is the son of the late Bill Webb, co-founder of the now-defunct Toronto Arrows. Friday's match is the first for the Canadian men at McMahon Stadium since 2017 when they faced Georgia. Meehan took over the Canadian men after Kingsley Jones stepped down in December after seven years at the helm. The team lost Meehan's first two games in charge — 25-18 to No. 22 Belgium and 24-23 to No. 15 Spain on a last-minute Spanish penalty kick — in July in Edmonton. Veteran forward Evan Olmstead started against Spain, his first cap for Canada since the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Canada has lost seven straight since a 35-22 win over No. 21 Romania in July 2024 in Ottawa. That losing run includes a 28-15 defeat at the hands of the U.S. in August 2024 in last year's Pacific Nations Cup. The 2027 World Cup features an expanded 24-team field, up from 20 last year in France. In MLR news Wednesday, the Miami Sharks confirmed it will not take part in the league in 2026. The North American league featured 11 teams last season but was reduced to nine in July when NOLA Gold, based in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, backed out and the San Diego Legion and Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (RFC L.A.) announced they will join forces and compete in the league next season as the California Legion. The Miami roster last season included Canadian backs Guiseppe du Toit and Shane O'Leary. Josiah Morra, who starts on the wing for Canada on Friday, spent time with the Sharks on loan from the New England Free Jacks. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Auston Matthews touches on Mitch Marner's departure, looks ahead to Maple Leafs season
Life goes on. Article content That's how Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is taking stock of the team's future without Mitch Marner, whose next game in Toronto won't be for another five months, when the Vegas Golden Knights visit Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 23. Article content Article content 'We'll miss him,' Matthews said on Wednesday night at the CAA Centre in Brampton. 'He's a great friend, great teammate. That's kind of the business side of it that's tough, but obviously I wish him nothing but the best. We'll just keep it moving.' Article content Matthews missed 15 games during the 2024-25 regular season with an undisclosed injury and when the playoffs were done, he acknowledged it was a physically tough year, but that he would be 100% for the start of the 2025-26 season. He said on Wednesday that his health was 'good.' Article content In his first media availability since the Leafs had exit interviews at the end of May following a second-round loss to the Florida Panthers, Matthews spoke before taking part in Hockey Night in Brampton, an annual charity game held to raise funds for a second hospital in the city. Ground was broken this past spring. Article content Two years ago, John Tavares was the marquee Leafs attraction; last year, Marner, dealt to Vegas in a sign-and-trade at the end of June, and Max Domi took part in the game, hosted each August by Brampton mayor Patrick Brown. Article content Among those playing on Wednesday night were Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev, Owen Power of the Buffalo Sabres and Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals, former Leafs Gary Roberts, Owen Nolan, Curtis Joseph and Mark Giordano and Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull. Article content Article content 'It's special just to give back to the community, coming here, you're meeting so many NHL alumni, different guys from all over the place. It's cool to do it for a good cause and have some fun too.' Article content There's no replacing Marner, of course, but Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has done what he can to re-shape the forward group, adding Matias Maccelli, Nicholas Roy, Dakota Joshua and Michael Pezzetta. More moves are possible, with David Kampf and/or Calle Jarnkrok potentially being traded. Article content 'Feeling good (about next season),' Matthews said. 'A lot of changes, but excited about the guys we brought in, excited about the guys that we have. I know we have a great team and great group of guys in the locker room. Article content 'Looking forward to getting started. Guys are going to have to take some steps, but I think that's a good thing, a good problem to have.' Article content At the top of the group of players who can go to another level: Winger Matthew Knies, coming off a 29-goal season. The 22-year-old's summer will come to an early end next week when he will join Matthews at USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp in Plymouth, Mich.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Recap of Team Sask. performance on Day 12 of 2025 Canada Summer Games
Here are some of the highlights from Day 12 of the Canada Summer Games in St. John's, N.L.
