Rumball to captain Canada against Russia, young fly half Sauder makes first start
Flanker Lucas Rumball will captain Canada and fly half Theo Sauder makes his first start Saturday when the national team takes on Russia at Ottawa’s Twin Elm Rugby Park.
The 22-year-old Rumball takes over as skipper from winger DTH van der Merwe, who injured his calf in last Saturday’s 48-10 loss to Scotland in Edmonton. Van der Merwe was filling in for captain Tyler Ardron, a backrower who is unavailable after failing to pass a concussion test in the wake of an injury sustained playing for the Chiefs in New Zealand.
Coach Kingsley Jones says while van der Merwe is not a long-term casualty, he won’t be back in time for the June 23 test against the U.S., in Halifax. Van der Merwe, who plays his club rugby in Scotland for the Glasgow Warriors, is Canada’s all-time leading try-scorer.