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Canada are set to play two tests in Europe next month. Both will take place at the National Rugby Stadium in Amsterdam. The first will be against the Netherlands on Saturday, November 12, with the second a neutral-venue clash against Namibia on Saturday, November 19.
While Rugby Canada has not made any statements about the plans, the Namibian Rugby Union has now confirmed the November 19 match. An earlier post on the Rugby Nederland website revealing the November 12 fixture has since been altered.
It will be the first time that the Canadian senior side has played against the Netherlands. Both Canada and the USA sent under-18 sides to Amsterdam in July. They last faced Namibia in 2014 at Colwyn Bay in Wales. The two sides were due to meet in Japan during the final pool round at Rugby World Cup 2019 but the game was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.
A number of Canada’s test side will first travel south to São Paulo. The 32-man squad will play non-cap matches against development sides of Chile and Brazil on October 21 and 26 respectively.
New Zealand were due to send an All Blacks XV to Canada at the end of October but that match has now been scrapped. ARN also understands that attempts were made to secure a match against Spain. Los Leones will instead play tests against Tonga on November 5 and Namibia on November 12.
Meanwhile the Canadian side has added former Springbok defense coach John McFarland to their coaching staff this fall. He will then reunite with Heyneke Meyer at the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby. The two also worked together at the Bulls and with Stade Français.
