Article content

Wearing red and white on a rugby pitch is nothing new for Peter Nelson.

But up until now that colour combo was because he suited up for years for Irish powerhouse Ulster. The red and white he’ll be wearing now belongs to Canada’s national squad.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Patrick Johnston: Canada begins Rugby World Cup prep with 'Irish experiment' at fly half Back to video

Canadian coach Kingsley Jones revealed his 31-man squad for this summer’s Pacific Nations Cup and Nelson is one of three uncapped players.

The Canadians open the three-match series next week in Colorado before playing a pair of early August games against Fiji and Tonga in Fiji.

It has been a whirlwind few months for the Irishman, who qualifies for Canada through a grandmother who was born in Toronto but moved to the Emerald Isle when she was seven.

“It’s brilliant, I’ve been here six weeks now,” Nelson said this week from Rugby Canada’s training base in the Victoria suburb of Langford. “I really feel like I’ve settled in well. I feel part of the squad.”

Nelson, 26, played eight seasons for Ulster Rugby, a perennial power in the Pro14. Jones, having learned that Nelson was eligible to play for Canada, approached the six-foot redhead about taking on something new.