Canada will be without four-try hero Tyler Ardron for Saturday's Pacific Nations Cup rugby game against Japan in Sendai.
The 34-year-old backrower, in his first outing for the national team since October 2021, tied a 25-year-old Canadian single-test scoring record in helping Canada to a 34-20 win over the United States in the tournament opener in Calgary on Friday.
Ardron, who captained Canada at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, and fellow veteran forward Evan Olmstead have returned to their to their clubs in France — Castres Olympique and SU Agen, respectively — "to fulfil ongoing professional commitments," according to Rugby Canada.
Friday's win, Canada's first over the U.S. Eagles since September 2021, moved the Canadian men up one rung in the world rankings to No. 24 while the Americans slipped two spots to No. 18. The victory also snapped a seven-game losing run.
Canada has lost the last five meetings with Japan, which is currently ranked 13th, since a 20-20 tie at the 2011 World Cup. The teams also drew 12-12 at the 2007 tournament. The Canadians have not beaten Japan since May 2005, a 15-10 decision in Tokyo, going 0-7-2 since against the Brave Blossoms.
Canada coach Steve Meehan has brought 28 players to Japan for the game at Yurtec Stadium with backs Cooper Coats and Talon McMullin also not making the trip.
Shane O’Leary, Callum Botchar, Austin Creighton and Brock Gallagher have been added to the roster.
The Pacific Nations Cup marks the start of World Cup qualifying for the Canadian men, who missed out on the tournament for the first time in 2023 after qualifying series losses to the U.S. and Chile.
The Pacific Nations Cup, which also features No. 9 Fiji, No. 14 Samoa and No. 17 Tonga, will send three teams to the 2027 World Cup, which is being hosted by No. 6 Australia.
Tonga, which downed Samoa 30-16 Friday in Nuku'alofa in Pool A play, visits Fiji on Saturday.
The semifinals and fifth-versus-sixth game are scheduled for Sept. 14 in Denver with the championship and third-place game Sept. 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Fiji and Japan have already qualified for the 2027 World Cup through their performance at the 2023 tournament, so a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it.
The team that finishes sixth still has a shot at the World Cup via a two-legged qualifying playoff against the 2025 Sudaméricano runner-up. The playoff loser joins the four-team Final Qualification Tournament with one World Cup berth on the line.
Canada finished sixth in last year's Pacific Nations Cup, beaten 30-17 by Tonga after group stage losses to the U.S. (28-15) and Japan (55-28).
Canada Tour Roster
Forwards
Austin Creighton, Edmonton, James Bay AA; Calixto Martinez, White Rock, B.C., Old Glory DC (MLR); Callum Botchar, Vancouver, NOLA Gold (MLR); Cole Keith, Sussex, N.B., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Conor Young, Yamba, Australia, RFC LA (MLR); Dewald Kotze, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Emerson Prior, Brockville, Ont., Utah Warriors (MLR); Izzak Kelly, White Rock, B.C., Capilano RFC; Jesse Mackail, Palmerston North, New Zealand, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Kyle Steeves, Winnipeg, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Lucas Rumball (capt.), Toronto, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Mason Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Matt Heaton, Godmanchester, Que., RFC LA (MLR); Matt Oworu, Calgary, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Piers Von Dadelszen, Vancouver, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Siôn Parry, Cardiff, Wales, Ebbw Vale RFC (Wales).
Backs
Ben LeSage, Calgary, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Brenden Black, Oakville, Ont., University of Guelph; Brock Gallagher, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Isaac Olson, Vernon, B.C., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Josiah Morra, Toronto, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Nic Benn, Caves Beach, Australia, Utah Warriors (MLR); Noah Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Dungannon RFC; Shane O’Leary, Cork, Ireland, Miami Sharks (MLR); Spencer Jones, Cambridge, New Zealand, Utah Warriors (MLR); Stephen Webb, Toronto, UBC.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
