World Rugby Nations Cup – Canada vs Zimbabwe – ARN Guide

After spending the past two weeks in Edmonton, Canada heads east to Winnipeg for a first-ever tests against Zimbabwe on Saturday. It closes out the first half of the World Rugby Nations Cup schedule, with three further tests to be played in November. Both sides are looking to bounce back from defeat, with the Maple Leafs falling to Portugal and the Sables coming up short against the USA in Charlotte.

Current World Ranking: 23 (59.46 points)
2026-07-11 – Canada 14, Portugal 38 (Edmonton)
2026-07-04 – Canada 42, Spain 42 (Edmonton)
2025-11-22 – Portugal 33, Canada 27 (Coimbra)
2025-11-15 – Georgia 38, Canada 17 (Batumi)
2025-11-08 – Romania 31, Canada 21 (Bucharest)

Current World Ranking: 25 (58.59 points)
2026-07-11 – USA 31, Zimbabwe 15 (Charlotte)
2026-07-04 – Tonga 36, Zimbabwe 26 (Denver)
2026-06-20 – South Africa ‘A’ 40, Zimbabwe 0 (Port Elizabeth)
2026-05-02 – Zimbabwe 17, Zambia 7 (Bulawayo)
2026-04-25 – Zimbabwe 43, Zambia 31 (Harare)

	IN	OUT
8	Lucas Rumball	Piers von Dadelszen
10	Cooper Coats	Takoda McMullin
12	Jacob Ince	Josh McIndoe

	IN	OUT
1	Tidje Visser	Victor Mupunga
2	Bryan Chiang	Liam Larkan
3	Farai Mudariki	Cleopas Kundiona
7	Tadiwa Gwashu	Jason Fraser
9	Tyrone Gombe	Keegan Joubert
12	Kudzai Mashawi	Dion Khumalo

• Canada have lost second row Piers von Dadelszen and fullback Takoda McMullin to injury this week… but welcome back regular skipper Lucas Rumball and flyhalf Cooper Coats… Evan Olmstead shifts to lock and Peter Nelson to fullback
• Tyler Ardron is again absent for Canada… the back row talisman returned to France after starring in the draw against Spain two weeks ago
• it’s a first test start for Jacob Ince in the midfield… the 23-year-old made his test debut off the bench against Portugal and replaces another youngster Josh McIndoe
• changes on the bench see Foster DeWitt covering hooker, Stephen Webb in as reserve halfback, and Lockie Kratz an option at flyhalf or center… Kratz won two caps in 2021 but spent nearly two years recovering from a serious knee injury… the 26-year-old recently captained the Canada Sevens side
• Chicago Hounds back row Matthew Oworu continues his recovery from injury suffered during the Major League Rugby campaign… he misses out on a chance to play against the country he he represented at age-grade level… Oworu was born in Canada but schooled in Zimbabwe
• Zimbabwe coach Pieter Benade has opted to keep his first choice front row on the bench… it’s first start for loosehead prop Tijde Visser, and a first test appearance for tighthead Farai Mudariki since 2018… both props play for professional clubs in France
• Tyrone Gombe gets his second start at scrumhalf for Zimbabwe after injury to captain Hilton Mudariki… flyhalf Ian Prior has recovered from a knock that saw him a late scratch against the USA, but he’s named on the bench with Bruce Houston again running out at No10

Steve Meehan (Head Coach)

“We took some important lessons from last weekend’s performance, both as coaches and players. With this group spending long periods apart, every time we come together is an opportunity to build understanding and sharpen our game, and we know we can’t take anything for granted as we continue preparing for next year’s Rugby World Cup. We’ve focused this week on addressing key areas that need improvement, and with a quick turnaround, we’re eager to show that progress against Zimbabwe.”

Warm air and barely a hint of wind are expected at kickoff. The returns of Rumball and Coats are a significant boost for the Canadians, though the loss of van Dadelszen and McMullin is unfortunate. They give the Maple Leafs an advantage in experience over the Sables starters. Zimbabwe, however, have a stronger bench that could make this interesting in the second half. Expect a close encounter that could go either way. Canada are slight favorites at home in Winnipeg.

CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Andrew Quattrin (capt.), 3 Cole Keith, 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Izzak Kelly, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Sion Parry, 8 Lucas Rumball, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Cooper Coats, 11 Noah Flesch, 12 Jacob Ince, 13 Spencer Jones, 14 Kyle Tremblay, 15 Peter Nelson

Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Sam Miller, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Daragh Doyle, 20 Cody Nhanala, 21 Stephen Webb, 22 Lockie Kratz, 23 Liam James

ZIMBABWE
1 Tijde Visser, 2 Bryan Chiang, 3 Farai Mudariki, 4 Gary Porter, 5 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Tino Mavesere (capt.), 7 Tadiwa Gwashu, 8 Aiden Burnett, 9 Tyrone Gombe, 10 Bruce Houston, 11 Edward Sigauke, 12 Kudzai Mashawi, 13 Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, 14 Matthew McNab, 15 Tapiwa Mafura

Replacements: 16 Liam Larkan, 17 Victor Mupunga, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 Jason Fraser, 20 Simba Siraha, 21 Dion Khumalo, 22 Keegan Joubert, 23 Ian Prior

Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern, Sunday 02:00 Zimbabwe)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 82°F (28°C), wind NE 3-6 mph (6-9 km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN 2 (Canada), RugbyPass TV

Referee: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistants:  Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) & Mike Lawrenson (USA)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

HEAD-TO-HEAD (0): n/a