Canada reveal RWC squad

Ottawa - Ospreys back row Tyler Ardron will captain Canada at the Rugby World Cup after being named in a 31-man squad by coach Kieran Crowley on Wednesday.

Ardron missed Canada's 41-23 defeat to the United States in Ottawa on Saturday because of a knee injury, with Aaron Carpenter deputising in a disappointing third straight loss to the Eagles for the Canadians.

But Canadian officials are confident the Wales-based 24-year-old will be fit to lead Canada at the World Cup, where they face Ireland, Italy, France and Romania in the group phase.

Former All Black Crowley said he was confident the youthful Ardron would cope with the demands of the captaincy in what will be his debut World Cup, noting that he had skippered Ospreys at various times last season.

"Tyler is part of the leadership group at Ospreys and captained them during the Six Nations this year," Crowley said.

"He's young but will call on the experience of Jamie Cudmore, Aaron Carpenter, Hubert Buydens and DTH Van Der Merwe, who all have World Cup experience, to help provide leadership."

Although Ardron will have experienced team-mates to rely on, 18 members of Canada's squad will be playing in a World Cup for the first time.

France-based forward Cudmore will be playing in his fourth World Cup at the age of 36, only the fifth Canadian in history to reach the milestone.

Carpenter and Van Der Merwe will be playing in their third World Cup.

Canada head into the World Cup after a disappointing run of results, which included a winless campaign in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Canada squad for Rugby World Cup:

Forwards

Tyler Ardron (captain), Ray Barkwill, Brett Beukeboom, Hubert Buydens, Aaron Carpenter, Jamie Cudmore, Nanyak Dala, Kyle Gilmour, Jason Marshall, John Moonlight, Evan Olmstead, Benoit Piffero, Djustice Sears-Duru, Jebb Sinclair, Richard Thorpe, Andrew Tiedemann, Doug Wooldridge

Backs

Conor Trainor, Liam Underwood, DTH van der Merwe, Jeff Hassler, Ciaran Hearn, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Phil Mack, Jamie Mackenzie, Phil Mackenzie, Matt Evans, Nick Blevins, Connor Braid, Gordon McRorie