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After celebrating his 50th appearance with the Toronto Arrows this year, Lucas Rumball will mark a milestone on Saturday when Canada takes on hosts of the International Four-Team Rugby Cup from La Vila, Spain, in Villajoyosa.
This will be the 50th variant for the 28-year-old winger who made his debut for Canada against Uruguay in February 2016.
“What a wonderful accomplishment for Lucas,” Canadian coach Kingsley Jones said. “His commitment to Canadian rugby is immense and he has been a leader for Canada and the Toronto Arrows, leading through his behavior and example. “
Rumball, captain of both teams, says Canadians are hungry after missing out on the World Cup.
“It’s a younger team with a wonderful expansion mentality,” he said. “I think with the guys here, it’s about getting back on the right foot, getting Canadian rugby back to where it wants to be. “
A 57-34 loss to Spain, lately ranked 19th in the world, in July 2022 in Ottawa serves as motivation.
Spain led 40-13 at halftime thanks to six attempts. The Canadians led 21-17 in the second half, but the margin was too deep.
Rumball, who scored one of Canada’s 4 attempts that day, says the Canadians, ranked 23rd, should “try to regain some respect with that result. “
This is a full 80-minute performance.
“We’ve got to get off to a strong start on Saturday,” Rumball said. This game (in Ottawa) shows that we can be a component of it. We can be a factor. But we have to do it from the beginning. “
World Rugby is investing in the Spanish competition, in which the 18th-ranked USA will face 26th-ranked Brazil in Saturday’s opener at El Pantano Stadium. The winners will face each other in the final on November 18, while the losers will face 3rd place.
The games are the first for the Canadians since August’s 28-3, 36-12 loss to No. 16 Tonga as they prepare for the World Cup.
Rumball says the excursion to the Pacific islands served as a platform to take advantage of the November games.
“We learned a lot about ourselves,” he said, bringing up the defensive spaces of the lineout, the field of the box and turning the position of the box into problems as spaces for improvement.
Canada’s Matchday 23 features 18 MLR players, plus MLR champions New England Free Jacks and 4 Toronto Arrows.
“We all know each other,” Rumball thankfully said of the New England contingent. “A lot of those guys played in Toronto before that. . . The wonderful thing about this organization is that there’s no ego. “
Saturday’s game marks Canada’s first start for New England midfielder Gabe Casey, who made his debut on the bench against Tonga. Seattle Seawolves scrum-half Reid Watkins, who represented Canada at the age level, can win his first international game off the bench.
Rumball, the first player signed through the Arrows, has made 54 career appearances (including 51 starts) since MLR’s inaugural campaign in 2019, followed by the 59 appearances of recently retired Mike Sheppard.
The six-foot-two, 230-pound player leads the Arrows in career tackles (696) and interceptions (49). Rumball, Sheppard and Paul Ciulini (50) are the Arrows who have reached half a century in terms of appearances for the club.
Rumball, a punching force and body-risking strike device, spends the offseason in Vancouver with her friend Angie.
Jones’ coaching in Spain includes former Canadian prop Hubert Buydens, an assistant coach at Pacific Pride Academy and Trinity Western University, as well as defensive coach John McFarland.
The tournament marks the end of former British lion Rob Howley’s three-year tenure as Jones’ assistant head coach.
“It’s unbelievable,” Rumball said. I have the utmost respect for Rob and what he brings to the table. I think I’ve learned a lot as a player. You don’t have to be a striker coach to teach a striker a thing or two about the game. He’s also with the Arrows for a couple of years. So I had the wonderful luxury of being able to interact with him every year.
“He’s able to take the game to a whole new level. I appreciate him and what he’s brought to the table. “
Canadian List
Sears-Duru J. , Oakville, Ontario, San Diego Legion (MLR); Andrew Quattrin, Holland Landing, Ontario, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Cole Keith, Apohaqui, NB, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Izzak Kelly, White Rock, B. C. , Spotswood United RFC (New Zealand); Conor Keys, Stittsville, Ontario, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Kyle Baillie, Summerside, PEI, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Lucas Rumball, Toronto, Toronto Arrows (MLR); Matthew Oworu, Calgary, Pacific Pride; Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, San Diego Legion (MLR); Robbie Povey, Northampton, England, Houston SabreCats (MLR); Josiah Morra, Toronto, Toronto Saracens; Gabe Casey, Ottawa, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Ben LeSage, Calgary, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Isaac Olson, Vernon, B. C. , New England Free Jacks (MLR); Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Toronto Arrows (MLR);
Replacements
Foster DeWitt, Courtenay, British Columbia, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Liam Murray, Langley, B. C. , Dallas Jackals (MLR); Conor Young, Yamba, Australia, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Mason Flesch, Cobourg, Ontario, Toronto Arrows (MLR); Siaki Vikilani, Vancouver, The American Raptors (Super Rugby Americas); Reid Watkins, Okotoks, Alta. , Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Mitch Richardson, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Toronto Arrows (MLR); Andrew Coe, Markham, Ontario, Rugby New York (MLR)
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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on November 10, 2023.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
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