Nelson on Scoresheet as Canada Wraps up Tonga Series
August 15, 2023 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Toronto Arrows News Release
Seven Arrows earned minutes in Canada's series-closing test match with Tonga on Tuesday, with the Canucks dropping a 36-12 decision in Nuku'alofa.
Fullback Peter Nelson, fly-half Robbie Povey, centre Mitch Richardson and flanker Lucas Rumball all started series finale, while scrum-half Ross Braude and loose forwards Mason Flesch and Travis Larsen entered the match off the bench.
The game marked Richardson's first international start, while Povey produced a heads-up try assist off the boot and Nelson slotted a tough conversion to close out the match.
Via Rugby Canada
Canada's Men's Rugby Team's tour in Fiji and Tonga came to a close on Tuesday afternoon at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa, with Canada losing 36-12 to Tonga in their second of two test matches.
Tonga scored four tries in the first half, taking a 26-0 lead over Canada at half-time. The Ikale Tahi scored again to open the second half, but after spending several phases inside Tonga's 22m line, a kick from Robbie Povey into the corner was corralled by Isaac Olson in the 65th minute for Canada's first try of the match.
Tonga responded with another try of their own. Olson scored once more however, sidestepping an incoming Tongan player and diving over the line in the 78th minute, his try converted by Peter Nelson. The final whistle blew shortly after, with Tonga taking the win 36-12.
"Tonga paid us a lot of respect by starting with such a strong team, particularly in terms of their front row. Unless you're technically bang on in a game of this level with a team of that physical size, you're going to struggle. We struggled with the collisions, we struggled with our maul," said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. "We talked at half-time about trying to win the second half. Small wins for us all the time. In that half we won 12-10, and we're very pleased with that. We've got to keep building. It's unfortunate that we haven't got a game next week, because we feel we get better and better."
University of Victoria player Gabe Casey entered the match in the second half at center to earn his first cap for Canada's Men's Rugby Team.
This match capped off three weeks in the South Pacific, which started with a 12-day training camp in Nadi, Fiji. Shortly following a training scrimmage with the Fijian Drua academy (Fiji's Super Rugby team), Canada's Men's Rugby Team flew to Tonga for two test matches, which are amongst the first to be hosted in the country since 2017 and the first test matches Canada's Men's Rugby Team has played since November 2022. Tonga won the first game on August 10 by a score of 28-3.
CANADA'S MEN'S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs TONGA
1. Liam Murray (Langley, BC) - Dallas Jackals
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) - Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young (Yamba, Australia) - Greater Sydney Rams / New England Free Jacks
4. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Spotswood United RFC
5. Conor Keys (Stittsville, ON) - Barrhaven Scottish / Ottawa Ospreys / New England Free Jacks
6. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) - Balmy Beach RFC / Toronto Arrows
7. Sion Parry (Cardiff, Wales) - Rhiwbina RFC / Pontypridd RFC
8. Siaki Vikilani (Vancouver, BC) - Burnaby Lake RFC / The American Raptors
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) - San Diego Legion
10. Robbie Povey (Northampton, UK) - Long Bukby RFC / Houston SaberCats
11. Isaac Olson (Vernon, BC) - New England Free Jacks
12. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, New Zealand) - New England Free Jacks
13. Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek, ON) - McMaster University / Toronto Arrows
14. Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) - Queen's University / Houston SaberCats
15. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) - Dungannon RFC / Toronto Arrows
FINISHERS
16. Foster Dewitt (Courtney, BC) - Westshore RFC / New England Free Jacks
17. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders / San Diego Legion
18. Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) - Belleisle Rovers / New England Free Jacks
19. Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) - Oxford University
20. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) - Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
21. Travis Larsen (Parksville, BC) - James Bay AA / Meralomas / Toronto Arrows
22. Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) - Toronto Arrows
23. Gabe Casey (Ottawa, ON) - University of Victoria
Major League Rugby Stories from August 15, 2023
- Martin Gleeson Joins Seawolves Rugby as Senior Coach - Seattle Seawolves
- Nelson on Scoresheet as Canada Wraps up Tonga Series - Toronto Arrows
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