Canada
Canada played at every Rugby World Cup from 1987 to 2019, then missed 2023 for the first time. They qualified again in 2025, and Australia 2027 will be their tenth tournament.
From Osaka in 1932 to a Quarter-Final in 1991
Canada’s first Test was played against Japan in Osaka on 31 January 1932 and lost 9–8. The game in Canada is run by Rugby Canada, and the men’s side has never had one permanent home stadium. Tests are taken around the country, with the national training centre in Langford, British Columbia.
The best World Cup Canada have had came in 1991. They beat Fiji and Romania, lost only 19–13 to France and finished second in their pool. That set up a quarter-final with the All Blacks, which they lost 29–13. It is still the only time Canada have reached the knockout stage. Across their nine tournaments they have played 32 World Cup matches, winning seven and drawing two.
Missing 2023 and Booking a Place for 2027
The road to France 2023 went wrong. Canada lost the Americas qualifier to the United States 59–50 on aggregate, then beat Chile 22–21 in the first leg of a play-off before losing 33–24 in Santiago. Captain Lucas Rumball has said missing that World Cup “still hurts to this day”.
Under head coach Stephen Meehan, appointed in December 2024, the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup became the way back. A 34–20 win over the USA at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on 22 August 2025 put Canada on course, and Japan’s win over the Americans sealed a semi-final place and qualification for the expanded 24-team World Cup.
Pool C in Australia: Argentina, Fiji and Spain
Canada are drawn in Pool C at Rugby World Cup 2027. They open against Argentina at Brisbane Stadium on 4 October 2027, face Fiji at Adelaide Oval on 10 October and finish against Spain at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville on 16 October. Rumball has named the Spain game as a key target.
The 2026 Pacific Nations Cup in Japan was mixed. Canada lost 57–12 to Japan in Niigata, lost a Fiji semi-final 45–29 in Osaka with Mason Flesch scoring twice, then beat the USA 19–16 in Tokyo on 19 September to finish third. Rumball won his 70th cap that night.
Al Charron
Red and White
Canada play in red and white, which gives them the nickname Les Rouges alongside the Canucks. Under Armour made the kit until early 2018, Canterbury took over from March 2018, and Macron has supplied Canada’s jerseys under a deal announced in 2020.
This FanFile covers Canada as a national team rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.
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Team Links
Sources & Further Reading
- Rugby Canada: Canada qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027
- Rugby Canada: Pool C draw and World Cup record
- Rugby Canada: RWC 2027 pool fixtures
- Rugby Canada: 19–16 win over the USA at the 2026 Pacific Nations Cup
- World Rugby: Hall of Fame profile of Al Charron
- Wikipedia: Canada national rugby union team
Facts checked: 22 October 2026.