Canada will close out their Pacific Nations Cup with a 5th-place play-off against Tonga at the neutral venue of Tokyo on Saturday. Both sides dropped both of their pool matches and as a result missed out on the Semi Final and a fourth test. The meeting comes a year after the Ikale Tahi swept the Maple Leafs in Nuku’alofa as part of Tonga’s World Cup preparations.
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, September 14
Venue: Chichibunomiya Stadium, Tokyo
Kickoff: 16:00 local (Midnight Pacific, 03:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 86°F (30°C), humidex 95°F (35°C), wind S 17-26mph (27-41 km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN Digital (Canada), RugbyPass TV
TONGA
1 Jethro Felemi, 2 Sefo Sakalia, 3 Ben Tameifuna (capt.), 4 Harison Mataele, 5 Tevita Ahokovi, 6 Siosiua Moala, 7 Tupou Afungia, 8 Lotu Inisi, 9 Aisea Halo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 11 John Tapueluelu, 12 Fetuli Paea, 13 Fine Inisi, 14 Nikolai Foliaki, 15 Josiah Unga
Replacements: 16 Penisoni Fineanganofo, 17 Salesi Tuifua, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Kelemete Finau, 20 Vutulongo Puloka, 21 Manu Paea, 22 Latu Akauola, 23 Kafa Vaea
CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Conor Young, 4 Kaden Duguid, 5 Mason Flesch, 6 Matthew Oworu, 7 Ethan Fryer, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Ben LeSage, 13 Takoda McMullin, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Cooper Coats
Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze, 17 Cole Keith, 18 Tyler Matchem, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Sion Parry, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Mark Balaski, 23 Talon McMullin
The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s final match of the Pacific Nations Cup against Tonga has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.
Canada will kick off against Tonga in the 5th place play-off on Saturday September 14 at 12:00am PT / 3:00am ET / 4:00pm local time at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team last played the world no. 16 ranked Tonga in August 2023, with Tonga winning two tests at Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku’alofa.
A number of changes have been made following Canada’s Pacific Nations Cup loss to the United States on August 31 in Los Angeles.
Matthew Oworu moves off the bench to be the team’s starting blindside flanker, with Cooper Coats also returning to the starting 15. Josiah Morra earns his first start with the team since last November’s La Vila International Rugby Cup match-up with Spain.
Starting on the bench, 20-year-old Pacific Pride graduate Tyler Matchem could earn his first cap for Canada, while Siôn Parry returns following recovery from injury and Callum Botchar could make his first appearance for the team since November 2022.
