Canada men have eyes on Rugby World Cup prep with Nations Cup match vs. Georgia

The Rugby World Cup is a little under a year away, but the Canadian men’s team has more immediate business to attend to.

Canada is set to face 13th-ranked Georgia on Saturday in Tbilisi in Nations Cup action. It’s the first of three games this month, with matches against Hong Kong (Nov. 14) in France and Romania (Nov. 20) in Romania to follow.

The 22nd-ranked Canadians sit last in Pool A with a 1-1-1 record from July, but are part of a four-way tie on seven points. Georgia is 3-0-0 and sits atop Pool B.

“I think there’s the opportunity for (players) to really come out and put their stamp on things. Let’s put it that way,” head coach Stephen Meehan said. “I think there’s still opportunity for those who haven’t been able to make this trip.

“There are some people here who I’ve got no doubt will be in Australia (for the World Cup). But there’s certainly some opportunity left.”

But Meehan was quick to point out that little time remains for players to seize those opportunities and stressed the commitment required.

“They’ve got these three games and certainly one next year, potentially two. So not a lot of time left to put their hands up,” he said.

Saturday’s match will see a few returnees suit up.

Matt Beukeboom is set to make his first appearance for Canada in nine years, having made his international debut in February 2017. Tyler Ardron also returns for the first time since Canada’s opening Nations Cup fixture against Spain in July.

Nic Benn, who last suited up for Canada in November 2025, also returns, while Tyler Matchem will be on the bench after an Achilles injury kept him out of the squad for two years. Meanwhile, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Jack Gore could earn his first cap for Canada after being named to the bench.

Meehan said Gore, 18, showed enough development during his stint with the team in Japan in September to earn another call-up and has “great potential,” while Beukeboom, 29, is excited about wearing the Canadian jersey again.

“Both at very different points in their careers, but both are incredibly excited to be here,” Meehan said. “So that has a certain sort of lifting, has a positive impact on spirit around the place. And it’s great to see.

“It’s a really, really tight squad and whilst you’ve got to work hard and you’ve got to know your stuff, the players make it pretty easy in many respects for people to come into this squad and be part of it and settle down and be supportive of them so It’s a really good environment.”

The growing number of Canadians playing overseas, particularly in England, has also contributed to the team’s environment. Foster DeWitt, Kyle Steeves and Sam Miller are among those on the roster for the Georgia game who play for English clubs.

“We were just saying earlier in the day that some of our front rowers who have been in the Championship have come across here and are performing better at training than they have previously,” Meehan said.

“Our feeling is that that’s because of the intensity, particularly with some of the scrimmaging, some of the games that they’re playing in the Championship and the work that they are doing at training, so there’s no drop off, there’s no gap in between tours (with Canada).”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2026.

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press