New Zealand-raised Jones starts at fly-half as Canada name squad to face Georgia in Nations Cup

Canada head coach Stephen Meehan has named his 23-man matchday squad to face 13th-ranked Georgia at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi in their opening fixture of the new World Rugby Nations Cup, a biennial competition featuring 12 nations already qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Two players with New Zealand connections headline the selection. Spencer Jones, a Cambridge-born first-five who predominantly plays in the midfield, starts at No.10 despite spending his formative years in New Zealand’s age-grade system. Nic Benn, who came through the Hawke’s Bay Magpies pathway, is named on the left wing for his 14th Canada cap — his first appearance since earlier in 2025.

Jones reflected on his route to Canadian rugby in a recent interview. “It’s funny because obviously going through the age-grade stuff in New Zealand, you get a sniff, and you’re like really keen. But then I think it just became a lot at that time for me, so I thought I’ll take a year off and then come back and give it another crack,” he said.

Veteran loose-forward Lucas Rumball, who holds 70 caps and plays for Chicago Hounds, captains the side, with centre Ben LeSage named as vice-captain in the No.12 jersey. Experience is thin among the replacements, with replacement loose-forward Siôn Parry’s 21 appearances the most of any player on the interchange bench.

Meehan, who took charge of Canada in early 2025, is under no illusions about the challenge Georgia will pose. “Georgia are a physical, confrontational team with an aggressive defensive line speed, a strong set-piece and an athletic backline,” he said after announcing the squad.

“It will be important for us to be smart in how we respond to those challenges and how we look to dictate the tempo of the game. We want to play with intent, strike when opportunities present themselves and move Georgia around the pitch.”

The Canada head coach also used the occasion to outline his broader ambitions for the programme. “We’re continuing to develop a style of rugby that suits our strengths while constantly looking for ways to improve. We believe it’s an exciting way to play the game, and one that the players are fully invested in.”

The Nations Cup represents a significant staging post for both nations as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and Canada will be looking to make a statement on Georgian soil in what Meehan has already flagged as a physically demanding contest.