Following an exhaustive three-month selection process, Canada has named its 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Two players, Al Charron and David Lougheed will be attending their fourth World Cup. Mike James, Bob Ross, Rod Snow and Winston Stanley will attend their third RWC tournament while Ryan Banks, Pat Dunkley, Jon Thiel and Morgan Williams will be making their second trip to the "Big Show." Twenty-one players are making their first World Cup trip on a squad possessing a balanced blend of youth and experience.

"We have named thirty-one players instead of the expected 30," said chairman of selectors Dr Bruce Howe. "We are doing this in order to give tour Captain Al Charron time to recover from his injury and will re-assess our options once we see how he is on August 27 and after Canada's Pan-American games in South America."

Also named were fourteen non-traveling reserves who may be called upon should any of the 31 named squad be unable to go to Australia, or should they become required once the World Cup begins.

Canada plays its first game in Pool D against Wales in Melbourne on October 12, followed by a game against New Zealand on October 17. Canada will then fly to Canberra, Australia's capital, and play Italy on October 21, then on to Wollongong for its final Pool match against Tonga on October 29. Should Canada advance, it will play the quarter-final match on November 9 in Brisbane.

"Canada's 2003 World Cup squad will be the best prepared, best organized and fittest ever to leave Canada," said coach David Clark. "We have a tough schedule and face three fully professional nations in Wales (9), New Zealand (2) and Italy (11), all ranked higher than Canada (12). Our final game against Tonga will be equally demanding. Tonga plays a tough, physical, uncompromising style of rugby. Our aim must be to emerge from our Pool and reach the quarter-finals. To do that in today's professional rugby world, would be the finest achievement of any Canadian team, ever."

Canada's 2003 Rugby World Cup roster: Ryan Banks, Jared Barker, John Cannon, Leif Carlson, Al Charron (Capt), Garth Cooke, Jamie Cudmore, Marco Di Girolamo, Jim Douglas, Pat Dunkley, Ed Fairhurst, Sean Fauth, Quentin Fyffe, Josh Jackson, Mike James, Matt King, Ed Knaggs, Mark Lawson, David Lougheed, James Pritchard, Jeff Reid, Bob Ross, Ryan Smith, Rod Snow, Winston Stanley, Jon Thiel, Kevin Tkachuk, Adam van Staveren, Morgan Williams, Nik Witkowski, Colin Yukes