(HAMILTON, ON) - Canada is in Ontario as they tackle the USA on June 24 at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field in the first leg of their Rugby World Cup qualifier before heading to San Diego for the second leg on July 1.
The two teams will be playing for the right to be Americas 1 in the 2019 Rugby World Cup where they have been drawn into a pool with England, France, Argentina and Oceanic 2.
Tickets are still available for the match. For individual tickets, go to https://events.rugbycanada.ca/usa2/index.html. For group ticket sales, contact fmason@rugbycanada.ca.
Ontario is well represented on the Men's roster, including Djustice Sears-Duru (Crusaders), Eric Howard (Brantford), Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach), Matt Tierney (Mississauga), Andrew Ferguson (Crusaders). Check out their player profiles below.
Djustice Sears-Duru (Crusaders Rugby Club)
The latest staple of the Blues program, DJ is no stranger to high performance. Being a part of the Blues program since he was just 12 years old at the U14 level, Djustice has gone on to see varying successes as a rugby player. From two CRC championships to 27 Canada caps, at 23 years of age he has quite the resume for a player who is just really beginning their international rugby journey.
On the club side, DJ played with the Crusaders Rugby Club. He has previously played for Glasgow Warriors in PRO 12 during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons before announcing his departure in February of this year. He has also made appearances with the Castaway Wanderers in British Columbia.
Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins)
Eric Howard is young, but his experience and skill are that of a much older player. Within the last year, Howard has won the OUA Championships with the Guelph Gryphons and the McCormick Cup with the Brantford Harlequins. On top of this, he was named OUA West MVP for the Gryphons.
He has most recently become a popular choice for the National team, making his test debut vs. Brazil in Langford on February 20, 2016. The powerful hooker is originally a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, but calls the Brantford area home. Brantford continues to provide a wealth of talent, as Howard follows in the footsteps of the likes of Aaron Carpenter who plays professionally for Doncaster Knights.
Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach RFC)
Balmy Beach Rugby Football Club are no strangers to producing talent for Canada’s national teams, and Lucas Rumball is another name to add to that prestigious list. Rumball – much like Eric Howard – is a young up and comer from Ontario. He made his test debut in February of 2016 against Uruguay and has had 12 starts since. The flanker from Toronto continues to dominate in provincial play. In the 2016 Canadian Rugby Championship, Rumball added one try in a win over the Prairie Wolfpack. That win kept the Blues’ hopes alive going into their match against British Columbia – a match in which they won to secure a fifth CRC championship.
Matt Tierney (Mississauga Blues/Section Paloise)
Now testing his trade in France’s Top 14 for Section Paloise, Tierney is no stranger to playing for the Ontario Blues or for his native Canada. Before signing with Paloise in 2015, the Ontarian prop represented Canada at the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy; helping Canada reach the final before a 49-24 loss to Georgia. Since then he has gone on to represent the Ontario Blues and Canada men’s senior teams respectively. Tierney represents a strong Ontario-contingent of front-rowers and has lined up in the scrum alongside Rob Brouwer, Djustice Sears-Duru and/or Eric Howard on multiple occasions.
Andrew Ferguson (Crusaders Rugby Club)
Andrew Ferguson has become a mainstay for the Ontario Blues Senior Men, beginning in the program at the age of seventeen. His most memorable moment with the Blues was their 2014 Canadian Rugby Championship season when they came from behind to defeat the Rock.
A member of Crusaders Rugby Club, Ferguson is the epitome of a trustworthy scrum-half. Calm and collected in any situation, he can always be counted on to run quick and efficient plays at No. 9 and is deadly with his foot when it comes time for a conversion or penalty.
In the 2016 Canadian Rugby Championships, Ferguson was lights out at the tee, converting six tries in the tournament.
