TORONTO — Veteran prop Hubert Buydens will captain Canada at next month's Americas Rugby Championship.
Francois Ratier, head coach of the Canadian women's team, will serve as interim coach while the search for a successor to the recently departed Kieran Crowley continues.
For Ratier, it's essentially a six-week job. He is confident Rugby Canada will find a successor to Crowley, whom he counted on as a friend and mentor.
Crowley, who resigned to become coach of Italian club side Benetton Treviso, was involved in helping choose the Canadian roster. The Montreal-based Ratier also went to Victoria to pick Crowley's brain before he left.
Because the 26-man roster is essentially a domestic-based side, plenty of notice was needed for players who had job or school commitments.
The squad, which will be cut down to 26 for the tournament, features Canadian internationals Ray Barkwill, Nick Blevins, Jake Ilnicki, Phil Mackenzie, Gordon McRorie, Callum Morrison, Evan Olmstead, Pat Parfrey, Djustice Sears-Duru and Buydens.
There are 18 uncapped players.
"I know most of them," said Ratier. "Even though I'm working with the women, I still watch the men's game."
Ratier, who has a long history of coaching men's rugby, saw many of the players take part in last year's Canadian Rugby Championship. He was also part of the coaching staff for the Canadian men at the Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji.
The Canadian squad will gather Sunday at Shawnigan Lake for a pre-tournament camp. Canada opens against Uruguay on Feb. 6 at Westhills Stadium in Langford, B.C.
The ARC, which runs through March 6, also features Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the U.S., and Uruguay. Canada will host Brazil on Feb. 20 while playing its other three matches away from home.
The makeup of the teams remains somewhat of a mystery. Ratier and his staff are awaiting rosters.
Ratier hopes to turn his attention back to the Canadian women after the tournament. He has camps and test matches planned for the summer as part of his preparation for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland
Canada's Americas Rugby Championship Roster
Kyle Baillie, St. Albert RFC, Summerside, P.E.I.; Ray Barkwill, Castaway Wanderers, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Gradyn Bowd, UVIC Vikes, Calgary; Rob Brouwer, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Hubert Buydens (capt.), Castaway Wanderers, Saskatoon; Liam Chisholm, UVIC Vikes, Kenora, Ont.; Alistair Clark, Bay Street Pigs, Oakville, Ont.; Paul Ciulini, Aurora Barbarians, Vaughan, Ont.; Andrew Ferguson, Oakville Crusaders, Mississauga, Ont.; Michael Hamson, Halifax Tars, Halifax; Eric Howard, Brantford Harlequins, Ottawa; Jake Ilnicki, Castaway Wanderers, Williams Lake, B.C.; Brett Johnson, Truro Saints, Truro, N.S.; Ryan Kotlewski, Calgary Saints, Calgary; Phil Mackenzie, Sale Sharks (England), Oakville, Ont.; Duncan Maguire, St. Albert RFCC, St. Albert, Alta.; Alex Mascott, UBC Thunderbirds, Langley, B.C.; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Dan Moor, Balmy Beach RFC, Toronto; Callum Morrison, UBCOB Ravens, Victoria; Evan Olmstead, Parramatta Two Blues (Australia), Vancouver; Clay Panga, Castaway Wanderers, Calgary; Pat Parfrey, Swilers RFC, St. John's, N.L.; Jacob Robinson, (St. Albert RFC, St. Albert, Alta.; Lucas Rumball, Balmy Beach RFC, Toronto; Mozac Samson, Calgary Saints, Calgary; Djustice Sears-Duru, Oakville Crusaders, Oakville, Ont.
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