DTH Van der Merwe returns to Canada rugby action for November tour

TORONTO — Star back DTH van der Merwe returns to the Canadian rugby fold for November tour matches against Ireland, Romania and Samoa.

Van der Merwe, Canada’s 15s player of the year in 2015, missed the June internationals with a shoulder injury.

Canadian coach Mark Anscombe has named a 28-man squad for games Nov. 12 against No. 6 Ireland in Dublin, Nov. 19 against No. 16 Romania in Bucharest and Nov. 25 against No. 14 Samoa in Grenoble, France.

Canada is currently ranked 18th in the world.

Like van der Merwe, Brett Beukeboom, Connor Braid, Phil Mack and Conor Trainor rejoin the squad for the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup.

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The squad also includes uncapped Admir Cejvanovic, Ben LeSage and Conor Keys. Cejvanovic has been a constant on the sevens squad recently.

Eighteen players return from the June international squad that played Japan, Russia and Italy.

“We’ve picked the best squad we can from the players available,” Anscombe said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate we’ve still got some guys out injured but we’ve brought back some quality players.”

Rugby Canada said Tyler Ardron, Hubert Buydens, Jamie Cudmore, Nanyak Dala, Kyle Gilmour, Jeff Hassler, Jamie Mackenzie, Phil Mackenzie, Dan Moor, Cam Pierce, Jebb Sinclair, Andrew Tiedemann and Jordan Wilson-Ross were unavailable for selection. 

Canada is 0-6-1 against Ireland, losing 50-7 last time out at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Canada is 2-4-0 against Romania, beaten 17-15 at the World Cup. The Canadian men are 0-5-0 against Samoa, losing 21-20 on a last-minute try last year in Toronto.

Canada roster

Kyle Baillie, Westshore RFC, Summerside, P.E.I.; Ray Barkwill, Castaway Wanderers, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Brett Beukeboom,  Cornish Pirates (England), Lindsay, Ont.; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary,; Connor Braid, James Bay AA, Victoria; Rob Brouwer, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Aaron Carpenter, London Welsh (England), Brantford, Ont.; Admir Cejvanovic, Burnaby Lake RFC, Burnaby, B.C.; Matt Evans, Cornish Pirates (England), Maple Bay, B.C.; Ciaran Hearn, London Irish (England), Conception Bay South, N.L.; Matt Heaton, Darlington Mowden Park (England), Godmanchester, Que.; Eric Howard, Brantford Harlequins, Ottawa; Jake Ilnicki, Manawatu Turbos (New Zealand), Williams Lake, B.C.; Conor Keys, UVIC Vikes, Stittsville, Ont.; Ryan Kotlewski, Westshore RFC, Calgary; Ben Lesage, UBC Thunderbirds, Calgary; Phil Mack, James Bay AA, Victoria; Gordon McRorie, UBC Old Boys Ravens, Calgary; Evan Olmstead, Newcastle Falcons (England), Vancouver; Clay Panga, (Westshore RFC, Calgary; Patrick Parfrey, James Bay AA, St. John’s; Taylor Paris, Agen (France), Barrie, Ont.; Lucas Rumball, Queen’s University, Toronto; DJustice Sears-Duru, Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Oakville, Ont.; Brock Staller, UBC Thunderbirds, Vancouver; Matt Tierney, Section Paloise (France), Oakville, Ont.; Conor Trainor, RC Vannes (France), Vancouver; DTH van Der Merwe, Scarlets (Wales), Victoria.

The Canadian Press