VICTORIA, B.C. - The University of Victoria Vikes will be well represented while Canada's Under-20 men's rugby team competes in a two-test tour against the United States on May 8 and 11 in Blaine, Minn. Canada's jnuior team is in full preparation mode for the Junior World Rugby Trophy (JWRT), which runs May 28-Jun 9.

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Cracking that list are UVic Vikes men Lukas Balkovec, MacBryan Bos, Haydn Evans, Sawyer Herron, Patrick Kay, James Pitblado and Nathan Yanagiya. Yanagiya was also named UVic's 2012-13 Male Rookie of the Year after an outstanding initial varsity appearance.

The Canadian squad will stay in Blaine, Minn., home of the National Sports Center, a 300-acre campus dedicated to sports.
 
Head coach Mike Shelley is taking a roster which closely resembles the Canadian squad going to Chile, with the addition of a few spares.
 
Canada will play the U.S.A. Under-20 squad on May 8 and 11.
 
“It's crucial that the players get a good standard of competition before we go to Chile,” Shelley said from the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford. “It's the first real assembly of the team and we have about six days together before the first game.”
 
The pre-JWRT tour is the reciprocation from last year when the U.S. squad visited Vancouver Island for a pair of games prior to last season's JWRT. The Americans will be tough competition for Canada, as they successfully graduated to the Junior World Championship after defeating Japan last year in the finals of the JWRT.
 
While a small number of Canadian players may remain under the microscope, the tour is ultimately about implementing the systems Shelley hopes will bring success in Chile.
 
Canada plays Tonga on May 28, Japan on June 1 and Uruguay on June 5. The finals of the round-robin tournament are set for June 6 and Canada's opponent will be decided on based on their results.
 
“We've seen quite a lot of the players now. Though there will be four more cuts to make for Chile. This tour is more about putting in systems and structures that will help us against Tonga, Japan and Uruguay,” Shelley said.
 
The U.S. tour is also the final stint for Canada's Senior Men's Fifteens head coach, Kieran Crowley, who is working with the Under-20 team before his senior squad prepares for the Pacific Nations Cup, Ireland Test match and Rugby World Cup Qualifiers this summer.
 
Canadian U-20 roster for U.S. tour:
 
Lukas Balkovec, (UVic Vikes) Kitchener, ON
MacBryan Bos, (UVIC Vikes) Victoria, BC
Neil Courtney, (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Charles DeBove, (SABRFC/James Bay Athletic Association) St. Sauver, QC
Justin Douglas, (Abbotsford Rugby Club) Abbotsford, B.C.
Haydn Evans, (UVIC Vikes) Victoria, BC
Jack Fitzpatrick, Ireland
Jason Galbraith, (Brandon Barbarians/Meralomas) Minnedosa, MB
Connor Hamilton, (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Lucas Hammond, (Toronto Nomads), Toronto, ON
Jordan Harvey, (Capilano RFC) Vancouver, BC
Matt Heaton, (SABRFC/James Bay Athletic Association) Chateauguay, QC
Sawyer Herron, (UVic Vikes) Oakville, ON
Patrick Kay, (UVic Vikes) Duncan, BC
Johnny Laplaca, (Barrie RFC) Barrie, ON
Ryan March, (Abbotsford Rugby Club) Abbotsford, BC
Alex Mascott, (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Daniel Mathie, (Oakville Crusaders) Oakville, ON
Conor McCann, (Balmy Beach Rugby Club) Toronto, ON
Adam McQueen, (Banff Bears) Banff, AB
James Pitblado, (UVic Vikes) Vancouver, BC
Jordan Reid-Harvey, (Capilano RFC) Vancouver, BC
Thomas Roche, (Brandon Barbarians/Meralomas) Brandon, MB
Jordan Sandover-Best, (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Djustice Sears-Duru, (Leicester Tigers) Toronto, ON
Shane O'Leary, (Young Munster) Munster, Ireland   
Jack Smith, (Peterborough RFC) Peterborough, ON
Charlie Thorpe, (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Peter VanBuren, (Calgary Hornets) Calgary, AB
Jacob Webster, (Lindsay RFC) Lindsay, ON
Nathan Yanagiya, (UVic Vikes/Capilano RFC) Vancouver, BC
 
Rugby Canada Staff:
 
Mike Shelley – Head Coach
Graeme Moffatt – Assistant Coach
Todd Silverthorn – Team Manager
Anthony Dixon – Team Doctor
Jessica Smith – Athletic Therapist
Lorna Barry – Strength and Conditioning Coach/Analyst