Newfoundlanders Patrick Parfrey and Ciaran Hearn were in Canada’s starting lineup Saturday night, but they couldn’t help the Maple Leaf avoid a 20-15 loss to the United States in a final pre-Rugby World Cup test match in Vancouver.
It was the warmup game for both teams ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which opens for Canada on Sept. 26 against Italy in Fukuoka, Japan.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup marks the first time two Newfoundlanders have played on the same Canadian squad in the World Cup since 2003, when Rod Snow of Mount Pearl and Dave Penney of St. John’s were on the Canadian roster. Pat Parfrey Sr. of St. John’s was the Canadian coach that year.
Hearn, from C.B.S., played in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and the 2015 event in England. Parfrey, from St. John’s, is making his World Cup debut.
Canada’s World Cup schedule
Sept. 26
vs Italy
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
Fukuoka, Japan
———
Oct. 2
vs New Zealand
Oita Stadium
Oita, Japan
———
Oct. 8
vs South Africa
Kobe Misaki
Kobe, Japan
———
Oct. 13
vs Namibia
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium
Kamaishi, Japan
