Coldstream, B.C.'s Isaac Olson is among the 36 players named to the Canadian men's 15s rugby team's Calgary training camp this week ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup.
Canada will kick off the Pacific Nations Cup on Friday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. PT at McMahon Stadium against the United States, the team’s first opportunity to earn direct qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The team will then travel to Japan to take on the hosts on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 1 a.m. PT.
All six Pacific Nations Cup sides (Canada, United States, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji) will convene in Denver, Colorado in September for the play-offs, with the semi-finals and fifth place play-off taking place on Sept. 14 in Denver, and the final and third place play-off taking place on Sept. 20 in Salt Lake City.
The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the Rugby World Cup (minus Fiji and Japan, who have already qualified); the last placed team at the conclusion of the tournament will then look to qualify through the South America/Pacific Play-off.
Olson is one of seven players from the recent Major League Rugby championship-winning New England Free Jacks playing for Canada.
“Players and staff are really eager to get on the pitch and continue to build off our performances in Edmonton. I’m looking forward to seeing this squad getting stuck in, in Calgary,” said Canadian head coach Stephen Meehan. “Having this extra time together is extremely valuable and there is some pressure around the place as we make our final selections for the Pacific Nations Cup.
"We are building strong foundations in our effort towards Rugby World Cup qualification. We have invited a mix of experienced players and new talent and are looking forward to seeing what they each bring to camp.”
Canada – ranked No. 25 on the world table – lost a pair of close games to two countries rated slightly ahead of them in Edmonton in July.
The Canadians fell 25-18 to No. 22 Belgium, then lost on a last-second penalty kick, 24-23, to Spain, which is ranked 10 spots higher at No. 15.
