Canada Prospect XV
Photo: The Rugby Network
With MLR starting this week and the international calendar beginning it’s time to look towards the future and see where Rugby Canada can give young players a chance to shine. For this exercise, I made a few rules of eligibility. The players must be 25 and under, and have a maximum of 10 caps. The players I have chosen are a mix of MLR and overseas players. Some of the players are close to the line (looking at you Tyler Rowland) and others are just starting their careers. A reminder that this isn’t an uncapped roster, as I want this to be a way to highlight players that could jump into the National team right away. With that all out of the way, let us get started!
1- Emerson Prior- Prior has had a whirlwind year when it comes to rugby. He was selected by the Utah Warriors in the 2021 Collegiate Draft and spent 2022 with the team. He played in 11 games for the Warriors, starting in 9 of those games. When the season was over, he then went overseas to New Zealand to hone his craft. He was rewarded by Rugby Canada by joining the team for the Americas Rugby Trophy. While he wasn’t capped by the national team, This is a great start for a young man who is a strong young MLR scrummager who has the athleticism to back it up (and as someone who has been tackled in drills by him, I know he can hit hard).
2- Jack McRogers- It feels like a bit of a cheat code to include Jack McRogers in this list as he has plenty of pro experience already in his young career. The leading try scorer for the Toronto Arrows will look to take another step as Andrew Quattrin heads south to New England. While I don’t see McRogers dethroning Quattrin for the starting role for Canada, he can be a steady backup and fighting to play 20-30 minutes a game. A bit more focus on his lineout throws and he will be ready for a larger role in 2023.
3- Tyler Rowland- If I had to give the captaincy to anyone on this list, it would probably go to Rowland as he is the highest capped player on the team (9 caps). He has been a breath of fresh air for Canada since Cole Keith’s switch to Loosehead and Matt Tierney’s unavailability. He has 409 carry meters on 80 carries, 120 tackles (87.6% completion), 285 ruck arrivals, six tackle breaks, one breakdown steal, and one try over his first three seasons with the club. Tyler played 468 minutes in 12 matches, starting 7, including 132 carry meters on 27 carries, 62 tackles (91.2% completion), three tackle-breaks, one breakdown steal, and scored one try for the Arrows in 2021.
4- Tyler Duguid- Tyler Duguid’s rugby career has been a very strange one indeed. To be such a highly touted player like he is, to not be capped by their national team is very strange. Rumours of contract demands from his Top 14 club and possible poor relationship with the national coach has barred him from selection. BUT COME ON HAVE THEY SEEN HIM PLAY? THE GUY’S A BEAST!!!! He has the size at 22 years old to compete in arguably the toughest league to be a lock. He was playing in THE HEINEKEN CUP AGAINST LEINSTER (mind you that was a bloodbath that the club decided to not fully contend in). You can put him into the Canadian team right now and he would be their best lock option hands down. So far this season he has played 7 matches for Montpellier and started two of them. In reality he doesn’t need to play for Canada as he is really at the top of the professional level (other than fully starting) but it would make this Canadian fan very happy.
5- Piers Von Dadelszen- Recently capped in their loss to Namibia, Von Dadelszen offers an interesting dark horse to this roster. Currently playing with Oxford University in the UK, not much is known to the Rugby Canada fandom when we saw his name added to the roster for the European Tour. While perhaps a bit lighter than his fellow lock in Duguid, Von Dadelszen has the opportunity post-schooling to either try to stay in the UK or go to MLR to make a name for himself. With a cap to his name and having already played for Oxford, the world is his oyster!
6- Logan Weidner- Weidner is an interesting prospect for Rugby Canada. He is eligible to play for both the USA and Canada. During the summer he traveled with both countries' U20 teams, in an almost Lebron James circa 2010 style drama. Now both unions have good reason to try and woo him as he is a very impressive athlete. Weighing in at 250 lbs and standing at 6 ft 5” he has the frame to play at the pro level. Strong in the breakdown, a threat in the lineout and not too shabby in open field, he is everything you want in a modern age flanker. He is also home in the #8 jersey so I wouldn’t be too upset if he ended up there for Canada. He was rewarded with an academy deal with Top 14 team Brive in 2020. As 2023 comes into view, his academy deal will be ending. Whether he has impressed a Top 14 team or MLR comes a calling, it doesn’t seem long for him to make the jump to the National Team.
7- James O’Neill- O’Neill had an impressive first season with the Toronto Arrows. He was named Club Man of the Year. The award was given by the coaches for his hard work both on and off the pitch. He amassed 394 carry metres on 61 carries, 185 ruck arrivals, 79 tackles (84% completion), eight tackle breaks, seven breakdown steals, two linebreaks, one offload and one try over his first campaign with the club. The only reason he hasn’t played for Canada yet is the logjam at 7. Rumball, Heaton, Smith and more play a very similar style to O’Neill. Thanks to the new partnership with the Toronto Arrows, James took the chance to travel to Scotland to be a part of Melrose Rugby during the offseason. With the changes going on with the Arrows roster leading into the 2023 season, look for O’Neill taking advantage.
8- Mason Flesch- Now putting Flesch in at 8 man and Weidner at 6 is a choice that could go either way. In my time watching Flesch, he reminded me so much of Tyler Ardron. Strong ball carrier, incredible offloading skills and can be an incredibly useful line out option. He has been a part of the Toronto Arrows setup since 2021 and has seen the rewards of his hard work by being called up for a cup of coffee with the National team. Last season he spent most of the season on the sidelines due to injury but the Arrows have seen this young man as a big part of their futures. With Del la Vega gone and no word of Kyle Baillie, Flesch can slot in as the back row option that gives the Arrows another set piece threat.
9- Will Percillier- Percillier is another Top 14 player for Canada that has been left out by selectors. He debuted for Canada off the bench against Wales in 2020 and since then has put his hand up for selection. Now the reasons behind this have been hush hush and have left fans to guess. Does Percillier not like Kingsley Jones after not getting the chance to start in those infamous Europe tests? Is his Top 14 team not letting him get released for international duty? (something Top 14 teams are notorious for doing). Whatever the reason, Percillier is one of the best prospects for Canada and to see him not be involved in the National team setup is a shame. He was rewarded by Stade Francais with a 2 year deal in 2022, joining the Senior team for the first time. He started in the Champions Cup last year as well (which in this era of Canadian rugby is very rare). Ross Braude and Jason Higgins seem to have a hold on the scrumhalf jerseys but if Canada was smart, they would give Will a shot for a few games to see what he can inject into the team.
10- Will Kelly- This selection is a make it or break it situation for Kelly. Kelly received his first cap for Canada in 2019 but since then hasn’t played for them. He has been around the program but hasn’t stepped on the pitch in the Red and White. He also was a part of the Dragons academy and their U23 side Cross Keys as well. With all this potential he was signed by the Arrows. This year he will age out of this hypothetical team and he is now out in Rugby Canada’s wilderness. Playing in the 3rd division of English rugby (and not always starting) isn’t the best sign for Kelly and his development. In the eyes of Rugby Canada, they would prefer him to be closer to home in MLR and starting most games but he hasn’t shown that step yet. He has the potential (which he showed in his starting efforts against the Jackals last year). The other problem is that there aren’t many other options for flyhalf. Most highly touted prospects at the position were switched to other positions (Webster and Coats to name a few). If he wants to show RC that he can make the lineup, he needs to show the consistency that has been missing from his game.
11- Avery Oitomen- Its seems like ages ago that we were all fawning over the teenage phenom that was tearing up MLR with the Arrows. Oitomen seemed destined for a Canada cap or too (there was even buzz about him making the trip to Japan in 2019) but a nasty concussion suffered at the World Junior Trophy and a move overseas to play at Cardiff Met and study have cooled off his hype. Now returning back to the Arrows (and looking much stronger and beefier), it will be exciting to see if Oitomen will be able to keep up with the upgraded defenses he will see in a league that has grown in talent.
12- Quinn Ngawati- Ngawati was part of the New York squad that won the MLR shield in 2022. Stuck behind Jason Emery and Fa’asiu Fuatai kept Ngawati out of the starting lineup but he always found himself on the bench. He of course has been a part of professional rugby since his time at the Toronto Wolfpack so his experience compared to those his age is quite vast. He received 6 caps but none of those were from this year. He is stuck in a strange situation of being a part of a winning program with multiple vets who can teach him a lot but not getting as much playing time as one would hope for a 23 year old. A strong ball carrier and with good distribution skills, Quinn would be a solid contributor to this squad.
13- Josh Thiel- A versatile, comfortable player in multiple positions but for me it’s in the centres where I see him play his best rugby. When he was teamed up with Ben LeSage this fall, I was very happy with what I saw. He has already been capped by the 7’s and the 15’s program and while not linked with an MLR team yet, he would be a huge benefit with any team.
14- Brock Webster- Last season, when the Toronto Arrows suffered all their injuries Webster came to the rescue from the 7s program. While many are frustrated that he was place on the wing and not his natural flyhalf position, you can’t deny his playmaking ability and how effective it is to have it on the wing. Add on the fact that for someone his size, he is a strong defender. Fearless in tackling, he always tries to stand his ground. If Will Kelly doesn’t take a step, I would like him to see some starts in flyhalf as the talent pool for wings is much deeper than the flyhalf pool
15- Ciaran Breen- Breen has landed in the 15 jersey as a bit of a question mark. There is not doubt that he is an amazing talent (being a part of the 7s program, having an academy deal with Biarritz in 2019 and a deal with Carassone in 2021). However he was a centre in both clubs and is coming into the position a bit green. The Arrows however feel confident in his abilities as the last line of defence. Depending on how they plan on using Sam Malcolm and Shane O’Leary, Breen can see a lions share of starts. Being 21, RC and the Arrows might see this as a long term decision and will want to see Breen change Cooper Coats for the National team jersey,
All in all, Canada has some strong talent coming up through multiple systems. Between overseas talent, MLR rising stars and 7 and 15 hybrid players, Canada will be set to make a big push for future World Cups. Of course the pack seems to be in better position (as per usual for Canadian rugby) but don’t sleep on some of the talent that the back line offers. If the National program can sort out a consistent schedule that they once had, the development of these players will be in great position.
Did I miss someone you were high on? Let us know! Send us a message @lerougerugby on your favourite social media platform and let us know who you see as a rising star in Canadian rugby (don’t forget the rules though!).