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A new agreement with Champ Rugby (formerly the RFU Championship) has opened the door for Canadian internationals to play a prominent role in England’s second division this year. With opportunities in Major League Rugby all but dried up, it’s a chance for some of the country’s best players to get valuable minutes against tough competition in the build-up to next year’s World Cup.
Most Champ squads are already near capacity but each will have some areas where they could use reinforcement and injuries will also play their part in the weeks ahead. A handful of Canucks have already signed and there are at least three uncapped eligibles who could yet come into the test frame.
Below we look at which Canadians might be of interest to clubs as they take stock of their needs and peruse recent game footage for talent. Only capped internationals have been considered, and only those either most recently attached to an MLR club or currently unattached to a pro or semi-pro outfit. Students – with one exception – have also been left out.
| FRONT ROW |
Cali Martinez is the only first choice Canadian front rower not currently signed to a European club. The 29-year-old was voted MLR’s best loosehead prop this past season but also has significant experience packing down at tighthead. With a short but powerful frame, he is highly competent in the scrum and rarely takes a backward step.
Behind Martinez at loosehead are Sam Miller – an imposing and mobile ball carrier who spent a few months in Portugal last year – and ex-Utah Warriors regular Emerson Prior, noted for his scrum and defensive work. The two split playing time on the Japan tour with Martinez unavailable.
Foster DeWitt impressed in the Pacific Nations Cup and has the benefit of covering both loosehead and hooker, the latter where he suited up for Peñarol in Super Rugby Americas. Mobile No2 Austin Creighton played for Brazilian side Cobras in that same South American competition.
Developing tighthead Kyle Steeves had a very strong 76-minute performance against the USA and spent time in the Shute Shield this year. He is a dynamic ball carrier with the ability to offload from the tackle. Bryce Worden is bigger than Steeves – nearly 130kg (285lbs) – and more of a set piece specialist.
| SECOND ROW |
High expectations have been placed on Izzak Kelly since he was a teenager. While there’s a feeling we haven’t seen his best yet, the 6’6″ (1.99m) powerhouse is starting to make an impression both in the set piece and as a running option. Kelly was in Portugal alongside Miller but has also played in Wales, Australia, New Zealand, and spent time training with the Dragons of the URC.
Youngster Daragh Doyle is a rangy lineout operator who started all three tests in Japan and is currently attached to Clontarf in the All-Ireland League. Callum Botchar isn’t quite as big as Kelly but offers a huge amount of grunt. He was a starter for the Seattle Seawolves and a 3rd-team all-MLR select this year.
| BACK ROW |
Canada has some real quality in their back row. None rank higher than MLR’s Forward of the Year Mason Flesch. He ticks all the boxes as a blindside flanker – lineout, carrying, tackling, jackling – and has the size to fill in at lock. Flesch continued his outstanding form on the Japan tour and it seems inevitable that a European offer – or several – will soon be on his table.
Long-time Maple Leafs skipper Lucas Rumball has been good enough for several years but seems to have preferred to stay closer to home. The 31-year-old recently won his 70th cap and has improved his ball carrying to become an option across the back row. He is a relentless nuisance at the breakdown and is MLR’s all-time leader in tackles and turnovers.
Injury-permitting, barnstorming eightman Matthew Oworu should also be a top target. Hard-nosed flanker Ethan Fryer spent the spring in Super Rugby Americas after four years with the Free Jacks. Former sevens series rep Cody Nhanala broke into the senior side this year as a dynamic attacker who can play flanker or No8.
| HALFBACKS |
Cooper Coats has become Canada’s top flyhalf but it’s unclear if the 29-year-old medical student is entertaining offers from overseas. He has prior experience in MLR and combines an effective kicking game with the ability to slice through gaps on the gainline. Veteran Peter Nelson is currently playing for his home club of Dungannon in Northern Ireland.
Also now based in the AIL are established scrumhalves Jason Higgins and Brock Gallagher. Both have previously been contracted in MLR. Joining the queue at No9 is 21-year-old Jesse Kilgour, who started two games on the Japan Tour and is not attached to a pro club.
| MIDFIELD |
Ben LeSage is vice-captain and a veteran of more than 40 tests including the 2019 World Cup. He has been a consistent starter in MLR, winning three titles with New England, and spent time training with Premiership club Gloucester. Primarily an outside center but more recently started at No12 for Canada.
New Zealand-raised Spencer Jones is at his best in the midfield but can also cover flyhalf or fullback. He was previously a starter in MLR and trained with NPC side Waikato earlier this year.
Jacob Ince earned two starts in Japan and now looks set to link up with Young Munster. Talon McMullin, a starter in 2025, has not featured this year but is one to watch as he returns to fitness. Both have the size and strength to punch through the gainline and prefer inside center, though Ince wore No13 in Japan.
Isaac Olson, Kyle Tremblay, and Noah Flesch are all physical runners who can also fill in on the wing, where Tremblay has been starting recently. Olson and Flesch each have MLR experience. Olson spent time in Australia earlier this year, while Flesch was a starter for Peñarol in Super Rugby Americas.
| OUTSIDE BACKS |
The ‘other’ twin – Takoda McMullin – has made a serious claim for the starting fullback position this year. He is a well-rounded player who also offers a strong right boot out of hand or off the tee. Slightly smaller than Talon but quicker and is also comfortable at wing or outside center.
Brock Webster – when available – is a nailed-on starter at wing or fullback for Canada. Unfortunately for the past couple years fans have only been able to watch his class in MLR, where he took home Player of the Year honors in 2026. Professional commitments have kept him out of the red jersey but perhaps a European deal could – ironically – get him back in the test side.
Sevens standout Josiah Morra has been missing from the squad due to injury, but is now back on the pitch in BC. He is an out-and-out winger with pace and stepping ability. Morra has won 13 caps to date and made the most of a two-month stint with Miami during the 2025 MLR season.
Jamie Armstrong recently made his test debut on the wing, but has played much of his domestic rugby at flyhalf or fullback. The 24-year-old offers height under the high ball and deceiving pace. Armstrong has also featured for the sevens squad, where Jack Shaw has been playing after a spell in MLR. Shaw is an English-born winger who played two tests in 2025.
