Parramatta Two Blues forward Evan Olmstead has been named in Canada’s 31-man Rugby World Cup Squad to play at next month’s tournament in the UK.

The Vancouver born lock moved to Australia with his family at the age of three, but admitted he’s always remained Canadian at heart.

“The initial plan was to move across for two years, but we ended up staying. I’ve been back to Canada every year or so since. Growing up in Australia, watching the Bledisloe Cup, you idolize guys like John Eales and Dan Vickerman, but playing for Canada has always been a dream for me,” Olmsted told Americas Rugby News. 

“I started playing in elementary school [at age 11] and when I was in year 7, the World Cup was in Australia. Many of dad’s friends from Caps (Canadian club Capilano) from his younger days came down and we went to watch Canada play Wales and New Zealand in Melbourne, and then Tonga at WIN Stadium.”

“Dad knew Richard Cudmore and after that match he introduced us to Jamie, who took me under his wing and took us in to meet the whole team. I got a signed jersey with names like Al Charron on it and I still have it in my bedroom at home. It was an awesome experience.”

The former Canadian U20’s representative is one of 18 players named to make their World Cup debuts next month, with the entire squad boasting just 650 Test caps between them.

Canada have drawn Ireland, France, Italy and Romania in Pool B and begin preparations with a match against the USA on Saturday.

Canada’s  31-man RWC Squad:

Tyler Ardron – Captain (Ospreys)
Ray Barkwill – (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues)
Brett Beukeboom – (Cornish Pirates)
Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack)
Connor Braid – (Unattached/BC Bears)
Hubert Buydens – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack)
Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues)
Jamie Cudmore – (Clermont Auvergne)
Nanyak Dala – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack)
Matt Evans – (Cornish Pirates)
Kyle Gilmour – (Rotherham Titans/Prairie Wolf Pack)
Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys)
Ciaran Hearn – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock)
Nathan Hirayama – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears)
Harry Jones – (Capilano RFC/BC Bears)
Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears)
Jamie Mackenzie – (UBCOB Ravens/Ontario Blues)
Phil Mackenzie – (Sale Sharks/Ontario Blues),
Jason Marshall – (Agen/BC Bears)
Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack)
John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues)
Evan Olmstead – (Parramatta Two Blues/Prairie Wolf Pack)
Benoit Piffero – (Unattached/Atlantic Rock)
Djustice Sears-Duru – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues)
Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock)
Richard Thorpe – (London Welsh)
Andrew Tiedemann – (Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack)
Conor Trainor – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears)
Liam Underwood – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues)
DTH van der Merwe – (Scarlets)
Doug Wooldridge – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues)