Rugby Canada team member Jamie Cudmore carries the ball at the team's practice facility in Burnaby, B.C., on June, 3, 2014. Cudmore, the veteran lock, headlines a 35-man Canadian rugby squad ahead of next month's home international series against Japan, Russia and Italy.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press
Veteran lock Jamie Cudmore headlines a 35-man Canadian rugby squad ahead of next month's home international series against Japan, Russia and Italy.
It's the first squad selection for Mark Anscombe, appointed head coach in March. The New Zealander has had to deal with injuries and players away with the national sevens team, which is taking part in an Olympic qualification tournament in June.
The 37-year-old Cudmore is one of 14 veterans from last fall's World Cup on the training camp squad. But captain Tyler Ardron, Jeff Hassler, DTH van der Merwe, Jebb Sinclair and Jason Marshall are among the injured.
"In rugby that's the way it is now," Anscombe said. "However, the exciting thing about injuries is it creates opportunity for other guys and gives us a chance to showcase some younger players and see how they play while expanding our depth."
Players will begin assembling in camp on May 28. At the end of the camp on June 5, a squad of 28 will be selected ahead of the June 11 match against No. 10-ranked Japan at B.C. Place. The 18th-ranked Canadian men play No. 19 Russia on June 18 in Calgary and No. 14 Italy on June 26 in Toronto.
Uncapped camp invitees are Dylan Horgan, Matt Tierney, Guiseppe du Toit, Trenton Cooper, Matt Heaton, Ben LeSage, Andrew Quattrin and Theo Sauder.