Canada's Rugby World Cup return drives Spencer Jones to Nottingham in landmark Champ deal

Nottingham have become the first club to complete a signing under the new agreement between Champ Rugby and Rugby Canada, with 29-year-old centre Spencer Jones joining the Archers ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The partnership was established to give Canadian internationals meaningful game time in a professional environment as the country prepares for its return to the World Cup after missing RWC 2023 — the first time in their history they had failed to qualify. Up to 10 Canadian players are expected to cross the Atlantic and compete in the Elior Champ under the arrangement, which includes financial and logistical support from Rugby Canada.

Jones brings 22 caps to Nottingham, 20 of them starts, since making his Test debut in a 34-21 victory over the USA in a 2023 RWC qualifier in 2021. Predominantly a centre, he has also started four matches at fly-half. Born in Vancouver, he spent his teenage years in New Zealand and played age-grade rugby for Waikato before building his senior career entirely in Major League Rugby — at Toronto Arrows, New England Free Jacks and Utah Warriors. He returned briefly to Hamilton Marist in New Zealand this summer while seeking a new contract.

His arrival at the Midlands club sets up the possibility of an all-Canadian 10-12 combination, with international teammate Shane O’Leary already on Nottingham’s books. The Irish-born fly-half, now 33, rejoined the club in March for a second spell after six years away that included stints in MLR and the All-Ireland League. In his first stint at Nottingham, O’Leary finished the 2018/19 season as the Champ’s top points scorer.

Jones started all three matches in the first phase of the Nations Cup and featured in both of Canada’s Pacific Nations Cup fixtures, as the side finished third in that competition. Nottingham, meanwhile, sit in the lower reaches of the early Champ table after winning one of their opening three matches.

Canada will compete in Pool C at RWC 2027 alongside Argentina, Fiji and Spain, despite currently ranking outside the world’s top 20. For Jones and O’Leary, a consistent season in the Champ represents their clearest route to a place in that squad.