TORONTO - Canadian rugby coach Kieran Crowley will be able to rely on some veteran help next month at the IRB Americas Rugby Championship in Langford, B.C.
The Oct. 11-19 tournament features sides from Canada, Argentina, the U.S. and Uruguay. Sanctioned by the IRB, its goal is to develop domestic-based players in the Americas.
Canada was runner-up at last year's ARC, defeating Uruguay 28-10 and the U.S. 23-3 before losing to unbeaten Argentina 28-9.
While Crowley has selected some young players, he has also named such veterans as Ray Barkwill, Nick Blevins, Adam Kleeberger, Jamie Mackenzie, Mike Scholz, Andrew Tiedemann, Conor Trainor, Sean White and Doug Wooldridge.
Uruguay, ranked 32st in the world, will be bringing its full national team this year, according to Crowley, with an eye to preparing for its World Cup qualification showdown next year with the 18th-ranked U.S. Eagles.
Like Canada, the U.S., will be using a domestic side at the ARC although Crowley says it looks stronger than the one the Americans fielded last year. Argentina, ranked 10th in the world, will be bringing a developmental side with its top players currently involved in the ongoing Rugby Championship tournament.
The Eagles Select XV includes capped players Shawn Pittman, Phil Tiel, Nick Wallace, Toby L'Estrange and Tito Lamositele.
The Canadian rugby schedule this fall also includes the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia Oct. 12-13 while the 15-man national team hosts the New Zealand Maori in Toronto on Nov. 3 before heading to Europe for tests in Georgia, Romania and Portugal.
The Maori game in Toronto falls outside the IRB's international window so Crowley will not be able to summon all his overseas pros. But he hopes to have most back for the November tour.
"We're still dealing with a couple (of clubs), trying to get players released," he said.
The sevens circuit continues Nov. 29-30 in Dubai and Dec. 7-8 in South Africa.
Crowley is dangling an ARC carrot for his 15-man squad.
"There's still probably a couple of positions open for the November tour which these guys get a chance to put up their hands for," he said.
Depth is needed at prop and loose forward among other positions, he added.
The Canadian ARC squad was picked after Crowley and his staff carefully watched this summer's Canadian Rugby Championship. It features eight members of the B.C. Bears and seven from the champion Ontario Blues, five from the Prairie Wolf Pack and three from The Rock.
Young talent includes Jake Illnicki and Irish-born fullback Jack Fitzpatrick, who played for Canada in the Junior World Rugby Trophy.
"The younger guys get a chance now to play at a higher level and see what it's like," said Crowley. "It's a stepping stone for them."
Not available for selection due to injury are Tom Dolezel, Jake Webster, and Sean Duke.
Ontario Blues fly-half Liam Underwood is unavailable due to university commitments.
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Canada roster for IRB Americas Rugby Championship
Kyle Baille, Castaway Wanderers, Charlottetown; Ray Barkwill, Niagara Wasps, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Alistair Clark, Baystreet RFC, Oakville, Ont.; Zac Coughlan, Swilers RFC, St. John's, N.L.; Joe Dolesau, Burnaby Lake RC, Burnaby, B.C.; Jack Fitzpatrick, Dublin University Football Club, Dublin; Aaron Flagg, Abbotsford RFC, Abbotsford, B.C.; Kyle Gilmour, St. Albert Rugby Club, Edmonton; Micha Gorvorchin, Burnaby Lake RC, New Westminster, B.C.; Matt Heaton, SABRFC, Godmanchester, Que.; Jake Illnicki, Williams Lake Rustlers, Williams Lake, B.C.; Adam Kleeberger, Castaway Wanderers, White Rock, B.C.; Jamie Mackenzie, UVic Vikes, Oakville, Ont.; Duncan Maguire, St. Albert Rugby Club, St. Albert, Alta.; Ryan March, Abbotsford RFC, Abbotsford, B.C.; Adam McQueen, Calgary Hornets, Canmore, Alta.; Henry (Hank) McQueen, Balmy Beach, West Vancouver; Callum Morrison, UBCOC Ravens, Victoria; Mike Scholz, Castaway Wanderers, London, Ont.; Andrew Tiedemann, Castaway Wanderers, St. Albert, Alta.; Conor Trainor, UBCOB Ravens, Vancouver; Sean White, James Bay AA, Victoria; Jordan Wilson-Ross, James Bay AA, Alliston, Ont.; Doug Wooldridge, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.
Head Coach: Kieran Crowley
Assistant Coach: Chris Silverthorn
Scrum Coach: Mike Shelley
Manager: Mark Winokur
Performance Analyst: Calum Ramsay
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Andy Evans
2013 IRB Americas Rugby Championship Schedule (all times ET)
Oct. 11
U.S. vs. Argentina, 9 p.m.
Canada vs. Uruguay, 11 p.m.
Oct. 15
Argentina vs. Uruguay, 9 p.m.
U.S. vs. Canada, 11 p.m.
Oct. 19
Uruguay vs. U.S., 6 p.m.
Argentina vs. Canada, 8 p.m.