TORONTO — The Canadian men's rugby team will play Portugal and Belgium during the November test window.
The tour will take the 21st-ranked Canadians to No. 19 Portugal on Nov. 6 and No. 27 Belgium on Nov. 13. Locations have yet to be announced, according to World Rugby.
Canada is currently in the midst of a World Cup qualifying series against Chile, winning the first leg 22-21 on Saturday in Langford, B.C. The second leg of the total points aggregate series is Saturday in Valparaiso, Chile.
The Canadians are coming off a 59-50 aggregate series loss to the 16th-ranked U.S. Eagles, a result that moved the Americans into a playoff with No. 17 Uruguay with the winner qualifying for France 2023 as Americas 1 alongside No. 2 New Zealand, No. 6 France, No. 14 Italy and Africa 1 in Pool A.
The U.S. defeated Uruguay 19-16 to kick off their two-legged playoff Saturday in Glendale, Colo. The second leg is Saturday at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo.
The winner of the Canada-Chile series will face the U.S.-Uruguay loser to decide Americas 2, which will qualify in Pool D alongside No. 4 England, No. 8 Argentina, No. 10 Japan and No. 13 Samoa. The loser of the Americas 2 playoff has one last chance to qualify for France 2023 via a repechage tournament.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2021.
The Canadian Press
