First for Belgium, Canada
Belgium and Canada meet on the international rugby field in Brussels on Saturday – the first such match between the two countries.
For Canada, qualified for the 20112 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, it is the first match in their four-Test tour of Europe. They go on to play Spain, Georgia and Portugal.
Canada, who are without tough forward Jamie Cudmore who is serving a suspension, have five uncapped players in their squad, including a teenager. Taylor Paris of Ontario turned 18 during the Commonwealth Games and is now touring with the senior team and on the right wing for the Brussels Test. No.8 Jeremy Kyne is also uncapped. On the bench are lock Jon Phelan, scrumhalf Jamie MacKenzie and Connor Braid.
The younger players get the opportunity to play as this first Test of the tour is outside of the IRB’s window which compels clubs to release professional players.
Belgium, who are a much improved rugby nation and likely to become even stronger as their young teams perform increasingly well, play in Division 1B of FIRA’s European Nations Cup along with the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Moldova and Germany. They are ranked 26th on the IRB’s rankings.
They have in the past played friendlies against Argentina and the Barbarians.
Teams:
Belgium squad: Thibaut André (Soignies), Aurélien Batardy (Soignies), Julien Berger (La Rochelle), Jérôme Cauwe (ASUB), Bram Coupe (Dendermonde), Christophe Debaty (Limoges), Thomas Dienst (Lille), Denis Eppe (ROC Ottignies), Charlie Fourneau (Lille), Denis Franquin (Boitsfort), Damien Godefroy (Marcq-en-Baroeul), Sébastien Guns (Boitsfort), Dirk Haghedooren (Agde), Julien Hanchir (Millau), Pierre Hendrikx (Boitsfort), Maxime Jadot (Pau), Daniel Janssens (Chateaubriant), Julien Massimi (Saint-Etienne), Nicolas Meeus (Kituro), Andrew Neal (Tournefeuille), Romain Orban (Kituro), Pierre Plasman (Dendermonde), Frédéric Rongé (Kituro), Damien Veraghen (Coq Mosan), Bastian Vermeylen (Boitsfort), Mathieu Verschelden (ASUB), Norman Wende (Saint-Etienne), Alan Williams (Montluçon)
Canada: 15 Ciaran Hearn (The Rock), 14 Taylor Paris (Ontario Blues), 13 Nick Blevins (Prairie Wolf Pack), 12 Ryan Smith (Prairie Wolf Pack), 11 Sean Duke (BC Bears), 10 Nathan Hirayama (BC Bears), 9 Sean White (BC Bears), 8 Jeremy Kyne (Prairie Wolf Pack), 7 Adam Kleeberger (Unattached), 6 Chaucey O’Toole (The Rock), 5 Brian Erichsen (BC Bears), 4 Jebb Sinclair (The Rock), 3 Jason Marshall (BC Bears), 2 Pat Riordan (BC Bears) (captain), 1 Tom Dolezel (Prairie Wolf Pack)
Replacments: 16 Andrew Tiedemann (Prairie Wolf Pack), 17 Dan Pletch (Ontario Blues), 18 Jon Phelan (The Rock), 19 Mitch Gudgeon (BC Bears), 20 Jamie MacKenzie (Ontario Blues), 21 Ander Monro (Ontario Blues), 22 Connor Braid (BC Bears),
Coach: Kieran Crowley
Date: Saturday, 6 November 2010
Kick-off: 15.30
Venue: Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels
Expected weather conditions: 40% chance of rain with a high of11°C, dropping to 5°C and a light wind.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
