Canadian men expect physical challenge from Tonga in Pacific Nations Cup rugby test

By Canadian Press on September 19, 2025.

Canada is expecting a hard-nosed challenge from Tonga on Saturday when the two meet to decide third place at the Pacific Nations Cup in Sandy, Utah.

“They will be very direct and very physical,” said Canada captain Mason Flesch.

“It will be a bit of a challenge for the first half. And then once they kind of start to lose their legs, it should open up a bit more,” he added.

It’s Canada second straight outing against a Pacific Islands rugby side after losing 63-10 to No. 9 Fiji in last Sunday’s semifinal in Commerce City, Colo. That means the 24th-ranked Canadians will face another pre-game war dance with No. 19 Tonga’s Sipi Tau following Fiji’s Cibi.

“It’s a bit of a fire-up when you’re facing it,” said Flesch. “Obviously the emotion that they bring out when they’re doing their dance, it has the same effect on the opposition. So it kind of gives us a boost. It just gets you excited, really, for the game.”

Defending champion Fiji and No. 13 Japan meet to decide the tournament title in the late game at America First Field. Japan beat Tonga 62-24 in the other semifinal.

Also Saturday, No. 15 Samoa will be looking to bounce back from a 29-13 loss to the 16th-ranked United States, last week in the fifth-place playoff when it takes on No. 20 Chile, the Sudamericano 2025 runner-up, in the first leg of the South America/Pacific playoff.

The return leg goes Sept. 27 in Vina del Mar, Chile, with the aggregate winner become the 23rd and penultimate qualifier for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. The loser gets one last shot, via the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai in November.

Canada and Tonga secured their World Cup qualification earlier in the tournament. Fiji and Japan had pre-qualified by virtue of their performance at the 2023 World Cup, which Canada missed out on for the first time.

“This tournament has been an important step forward for our group,” Canada coach Steve Meehan said in a statement. “We’ve had the chance to measure ourselves against quality opposition and now we have one more opportunity against Tonga to finish on a strong note.

“The players are determined to deliver a performance that reflects the progress we’ve made and the pride in representing Canada.”

Meehan has made four personnel changes, with one positional switch, to his starting lineup.

Izzak Kelly slots into the second row while scrum half Brock Gallagher, centre Talon McMullin and wing Jack Shaw, in his senior debut, join the backline. Nic Benn shifts from wing to fullback.

Hooker Austin Creighton could earn his first cap off the bench.

The Canadian men are no strangers to Tonga having met in last year’s fifth-place game at the Pacific Nations Cup in Tokyo, with Tonga winning 30-17. And Canada lost twice to Tonga (28-7 and 36-12) in August 2023 in Nukuʻalofa.

Tonga has won the last five meetings since Canada recorded an ill-tempered 36-27 win in Kingston Ont., in the 2013 Pacific Nations Cup that saw one Tongan player red-carded in the first half and two more sent to the sin-bin in the second half.

The Pacific Islanders hold a 7-5-0 edge in the all-time series.

A victory Saturday and Canada would climb two spots in the rankings to No. 22, leapfrogging Belgium and Hong Kong, while Tonga would slip one place to No. 20 — if Chile avoids defeat against Samoa or the Tongans lose by more than 15 points — to match its all-time low.

A Tonga victory and the Pacific Islanders would overtake Portugal and Uruguay, reclaiming two of the three places lost following their semifinal loss to Japan. Canada would remain No. 24.

A win for Tonga would secure its highest placing in the tournament since 2018 when it was runner-up to Fiji. Whatever happens Saturday, Canada is assured of its highest finish since 2013 when it finished runner-up to Fiji.

Fiji has won the Pacific Nations Cup six times, finished runner-up five times and third three times. Japan has won the three times — most recently in 2019 — and finished second once and third once.

Canada finished runner-up in Pool B, defeated the U.S. 34-22 on Aug 20 in Calgary before losing 57-50 to Japan eight days later in Sendai.

Tonga was second in Pool A, beating Samoa 30-16 and losing 32-10 to Fiji.

Flesch was named captain prior to the Fiji game after skipper Lucas Rumball and vice-captain Ben LeSage both injured.

The 25-year-old from Cobourg, Ont., who made his senior debut in September 2022 against the U.S., will earn his 17th cap Saturday. His 22-year-old brother Noah, a centre with seven caps, starts on the bench Saturday.

Ireland’s Andrew Brace will referee Canada’s match.

Canada

Calixto Martinez, White Rock, B.C., Old Glory DC (MLR); Dewald Kotze, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Cole Keith, Sussex, N.B., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Piers Von Dadelszen, Vancouver, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Izzak Kelly, White Rock, B.C., Capilano RFC; Mason Flesch (capt.), Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Siôn Parry, Cardiff, Wales, Ebbw Vale RFC (Wales); Matthew Oworu, Calgary, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Brock Gallagher, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Dungannon RFC (Northern Ireland); Josiah Morra, Toronto, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Spencer Jones, Cambridge, New Zealand, Utah Warriors (MLR); Talon McMullin, White Rock, B.C., UBC; Jack Shaw, Oakville, Ont., RFC LA (MLR); Nic Benn, Caves Beach, Australia, Utah Warriors (MLR).

Replacements

Austin Creighton, Edmonton, James Bay AA; Emerson Prior, Brockville, Ont., Utah Warriors (MLR); Kyle Steeves, Winnipeg, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Callum Botchar, Vancouver, NOLA Gold (MLR); Matt Heaton, Godmanchester, Que., RFC LA (MLR); Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Noah Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Shane O’Leary, Cork, Ireland, Miami Sharks (MLR).

Tonga

Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Sam Moli, Ben Tameifuna (capt.), Veikoso Poloniati, Harison Mataele, Tevita Ahokovi, Tupou Afungia, Siosiua Moala, Sonatane Takulua, Patrick Pellegrini; John Tapueluelu, Fetuli Paea, Salesi Piutau, Nikolai Foliaki, Josiah Unga.

Replacements

Sefo Sakalia, Leopino Maupese, Tau Koloamatangi, Tali Finau, Ephraim Tuitupou, Siaosi Nai, Uilisi Halaholo, James Faiva.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press