2009 Wales rugby union tour of North America

30 May – 6 June 2009 2009 Robin McBryde (caretaker) Ryan Jones 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 CAN 1 1 0 0 USA 1 1 0 0 South Africa 2008 New Zealand 2010 In 2009, the Wales national rugby union team toured North America to play tests against Canada and the United States. They won both matches, beating Canada 32–23 in Toronto on 30 May, before a 48–15 win over the United States in Chicago on 6 June. Wales travelled with an inexperienced touring party due to several senior players being included in the British & Irish Lions' squad for their tour to South Africa. Five players earned their first Wales caps on the tour, including future captain Sam Warburton and centre Jonathan Davies. Squads Wales With head coach Warren Gatland and attack coach Rob Howley on the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, forwards coach Robin McBryde was named as coach for Wales' tour of North America.McBryde to lead Wales summer tour https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7683846.stm BBC Sport 22 October 2008 16 March 2023 Captain Ryan Jones was a surprise omission from the Lions squad,Ryan Jones suffers shock omission https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8007968.stm BBC Sport 21 April 2009 16 March 2023 so he was able to continue as captain for Wales' tour. He was named to lead a 32-man squad that included 11 uncapped players, given opportunities by the selection of 13 Wales players in the Lions squad.Jones to captain Wales tour party https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8042686.stm BBC Sport 11 May 2009 16 March 2023 After James Hook was called up to the Lions tour, Sonny Parker was added to the Wales touring party. Prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts dropped out of the tour due to a knee ligament injury and was replaced by Paul James, while full-back Dan Evans was called up to replace Gareth Owen, who suffered an Achilles injury. The squad was finally reduced to 26 with the dropping of Scarlets flanker Rob McCusker and Blues wing Richard Mustoe, in addition to the unavailability of Dragons players Luke Charteris, Lewis Evans, Dan Lydiate and Jason Tovey due to their involvement in a Heineken Cup play-off.Parker takes over from Lion Hook https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8060106.stm BBC Sport 23 May 2009 17 March 2023 Charteris rejoined the squad for the second match against the United States after Bradley Davies suffered an injury.Peel returns as Wales take on USA https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8077766.stm BBC Sport 2 June 2009 17 March 2023 Name Position Club Notes Richard Hibbard Hooker Ospreys Gareth Williams rugby union, born 1978 Hooker Cardiff Blues Paul James rugby union Prop Ospreys Replaced Eifion Lewis-Roberts due to injury Duncan Jones rugby union Prop Ospreys Eifion Lewis-Roberts Prop Sale Sharks Withdrew due to injury Craig Mitchell rugby union Prop Ospreys John Yapp Prop Cardiff Blues Luke Charteris Lock Newport Gwent Dragons Unavailable due to club commitments; rejoined squad for United States match Bradley Davies Lock Cardiff Blues Ian Gough Lock Ospreys Deiniol Jones Lock Cardiff Blues Lewis Evans rugby union Back row Newport Gwent Dragons Unavailable due to club commitments Dafydd Jones Back row Scarlets Ryan Jones Back row Ospreys Captain Dan Lydiate Back row Newport Gwent Dragons Unavailable due to club commitments Rob McCusker Back row Scarlets Dropped prior to tour Robin Sowden-Taylor Back row Cardiff Blues Josh Turnbull Back row Scarlets Sam Warburton Back row Cardiff Blues Gareth Cooper Scrum-half Gloucester Dwayne Peel Scrum-half Sale Sharks Dan Biggar Fly-half Ospreys Nicky Robinson rugby union Fly-half Cardiff Blues Andrew Bishop Centre Ospreys Jonathan Davies rugby union, born 1988 Centre Scarlets James Hook rugby union Centre Ospreys Sonny Parker rugby union Centre Ospreys Jonathan Spratt Centre Ospreys Chris Czekaj Wing Cardiff Blues Tom James rugby union, born 1987 Wing Cardiff Blues Mark Jones rugby union, born 1979 Wing Scarlets Richard Mustoe Wing Cardiff Blues Dropped prior to tour Dan Evans rugby union Full-back Scarlets Replaced Gareth Owen due to injury Gareth Owen rugby union Full-back Ospreys Withdrew due to injury Jason Tovey Full-back Newport Gwent Dragons Unavailable due to club commitments Canada Canada head coach Kieran Crowley named a 31-man squad for their games against Wales and Ireland, and for the Churchill Cup. The squad included uncapped forwards Chauncey O'Toole and Andrew Tiedemann, while centre Dave Spicer and former Wales under-21 lock Luke Tait were among those returning from injury.Canada name squad to face Wales https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8050213.stm BBC Sport 14 May 2009 17 March 2023 Name Position Club Notes Aaron Carpenter rugby union Hooker Brantford Harlequins Pat Riordan Hooker University of Victoria Captain Scott Franklin rugby union Prop Cornish Pirates Mike Pletch Prop Velox Valhallians Andrew Tiedemann Prop University of Victoria Kevin Tkachuk Prop Glasgow Warriors Frank Walsh rugby union Prop Vandals Doug Wooldridge Prop Cowichan Mike Burak Lock Cornish Pirates Jamie Cudmore Lock Clermont Auvergne Tyler Hotson Lock UBC Old Boys Ravens Luke Tait Lock Mont-de-Marsan Nanyak Dala Back row Castaway Wanderers Adam Kleeberger Back row University of Victoria Stan McKeen Back row Oxford University Chauncey O'Toole Back row University of Victoria Jebb Sinclair Back row Castaway Wanderers Sean-Michael Stephen Back row Plymouth Albion Ed Fairhurst Scrum-half Cornish Pirates Phil Mack Scrum-half James Bay AA Ander Monro Fly-half Colorno Ryan Smith rugby union, born 1979 Fly-half Calgary Irish Sean Duke Centre University of Victoria Ciaran Hearn Centre Castaway Wanderers Bryn Keys Centre Velox Valhallians Dave Spicer Centre University of Victoria Justin Mensah-Coker Wing Plymouth Albion Dean van Camp Wing Velox Valhallians D. T. H. van der Merwe Wing James Bay AA Matt Evans rugby union Full-back Hartpury College James Pritchard rugby union Full-back Bedford Blues United States Following the appointment of former head coach Scott Johnson as director of coaching at the Ospreys,Ospreys confirm Johnson as coach https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ospreys/7815004.stm BBC Sport 29 January 2009 13 April 2025 the United States signed Eddie O'Sullivan to a two-year contract through the 2011 Rugby World Cup. O'Sullivan had served as Ireland's head coach from 2002 to 2008, and was also the United States' forwards coach from 1997 to 1999.O'Sullivan named USA Eagles coach https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/7892144.stm BBC Sport 5 March 2009 13 April 2025 O'Sullivan named a 28-man squad for the visits of Ireland and Wales; he was unable to call on 13 players due to injury and unavailability, including captain Todd Clever and experienced centre Paul Emerick, but the squad still contained five players who featured in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and only four uncapped players.USA Name Squad For Setanta Challenge Cup Game https://www.irishrugby.ie/2009/05/15/usa-name-squad-for-setanta-challenge-cup-game/ Irish Rugby 15 May 2009 13 April 2025 The original squad contained only one hooker and one scrum-half, but hookers Brian McClenahan and Joe Welch, and scrum-half Tim Usasz were added before the series.Scrum-half Usasz gets USA call-up https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8064171.stm BBC Sport 22 May 2009 13 April 2025 Name Position Club Notes Chris Biller Hooker University of California Brian McClenahan Hooker Olympic Club Late addition Joe Welch rugby union Hooker Belmont Shore Late addition Will Johnson rugby union, born 1984 Prop Oxford University Mike MacDonald rugby union Prop Leeds Carnegie Matekitonga Moeakiola Prop Park City Haggis Shawn Pittman rugby union Prop Bayside Sharks Pat Danahy Lock Dublin University Courtney Mackay Lock Counties Manukau Samu Manoa Lock San Francisco Golden Gate Hayden Smith Lock Saracens John van der Giessen Lock Denver Barbarians Peter Dahl rugby union Back row Belmont Shore Scott LaValla Back row Dublin University Louis Stanfill Back row New York Athletic Club JJ Gagiano Back row University of Cape Town Nic Johnson Back row Denver Barbarians Mike Petri Scrum-half New York Athletic Club Tim Usasz Scrum-half Nottingham Late addition Taivalu Enosa Fly-half Tempe Mike Hercus Fly-half Sunshine Coast Captain Ata Malifa Fly-half Belmont Shore Junior Sifa Centre Midleton Roland Suniula Centre Pearl City Alipate Tuilevuka Centre Provo Steelers Justin Boyd rugby union Wing Dallas Harlequins Takudzwa Ngwenya Wing Biarritz Salesi Sika Wing Agen Kevin Swiryn Wing OPSB Gavin DeBartolo Full-back Eastern Suburbs Chris Wyles Full-back Saracens Matches Canada v Wales McBryde named an inexperienced team for Wales' opening match against Canada; aside from scrum-half Gareth Cooper, the backs had just 10 caps between them, with debuts for Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and full-back Dan Evans. Three more uncapped players were named on the bench in prop Craig Mitchell, flanker Sam Warburton and centre Jonathan Spratt.Scarlets duo set for Wales debuts https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8069003.stm BBC Sport 26 May 2009 17 March 2023 Early penalties from James Pritchard gave Canada a 6–0 lead inside the opening quarter of an hour, but a try from Chris Czekaj, making his first Wales appearance for almost two years, was converted by Dan Biggar to put Wales in front at the midway point of the half. After Canada lock Luke Tait was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball, Biggar then kicked three penalties before the end of the half, sandwiching another from Pritchard, to give Wales a 16–9 lead at the break. Cooper was injured in an unsuccessful try-scoring attempt just before half-time and replaced by Dwayne Peel for the second half. A try from Sean Duke, converted by Pritchard, levelled the scores early in the second half, only for Tom James to put Wales back in front with another converted try, before Biggar stretched Wales' lead with another two penalties shortly afterwards. A try by Ed Fairhurst, converted by Pritchard, narrowed the deficit to 29–23 just before the hour mark, but a penalty from Biggar put Wales nine points ahead with eight minutes to play. In the final quarter, Wales brought on Mitchell and Spratt for their first appearances, but Warburton was made to wait.Canada 23-32 Wales https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8070478.stm BBC Sport 30 May 2009 18 March 2023 30 May 2009 14:45 EDT CAN 23–32 Report WAL Duke 42' cFairhurst 58' c Pritchard (2) 43', 59' Pritchard (3) 9', 14', 30' Czekaj 16' cJames 48' c Biggar (2) 17', 49' Biggar (6) 21', 27', 33', 53', 56', 72' York Stadium, Toronto 8,450 Matt Goddard (Australia) FB 15James PritchardRW 14Ciaran HearnOC 13D. T. H. van der MerweIC 12Ryan SmithLW 11Sean Duke 62FH 10Ander Monro 40SH 9 Ed Fairhurst 74N8 8 Aaron CarpenterOF 7 Adam KleebergerBF 6 Nanyak Dala 69RL 5 Luke Tait 21 61LL 4 Mike BurakTP 3 Andrew Tiedemann 60HK 2 Pat Riordan (c)LP 1 Kevin TkachukReplacements:HK 16Mike Pletch 60PR 17Doug Wooldridge 69LK 18Tyler Hotson 61FL 19Sean-Michael Stephen 40SH 20Matt Evans 74FH 21Dave Spicer 62CE 22Phil MackCoach:NZL Kieran Crowley350px FB 15Dan EvansRW 14Tom JamesOC 13Jonathan Davies 73IC 12Andrew BishopLW 11Chris CzekajFH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Gareth Cooper 40N8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Robin Sowden-TaylorBF 6 Dafydd JonesRL 5 Deiniol JonesLL 4 Bradley DaviesTP 3 John Yapp 61HK 2 Richard Hibbard 76LP 1 Duncan JonesReplacements:HK 16Gareth Williams 76PR 17Craig Mitchell 61LK 18Ian GoughFL 19Sam WarburtonSH 20Dwayne Peel 40FH 21Nicky RobinsonCE 22Jonathan Spratt 73Coach:WAL Robin McBryde United States v Wales The match against the United States was Wales' 600th test match. Despite scoring a try in the previous match, Wales wing Chris Czekaj was dropped to make room for Mark Jones, who had missed the Canada game due to injury. McBryde also replaced both half-backs, with Peel and Nicky Robinson coming in for Cooper and Biggar; in the forwards, hooker Gareth Williams replaced Richard Hibbard, while Ian Gough started in the second row in place of Bradley Davies, who had chipped a bone in his neck; Dragons lock Luke Charteris came onto the bench after joining the tour late, leaving Scarlets flanker Josh Turnbull and Ospreys centre Sonny Parker as the only touring players not to make an appearance in either match.Charteris joins Wales in Windy City https://www.wru.wales/2009/06/charteris-joins-wales-in-windy-city/ Welsh Rugby Union 1 June 2009 13 April 2025 Peel returns as Wales take on USA https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8077766.stm BBC Sport 2 June 2009 18 March 2023 For the United States, coach Eddie O'Sullivan dropped former Scarlets and Dragons fly-half Mike Hercus, and replaced him with Ata Malifa.Eagles drop outside-half Hercus https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8084238.stm BBC Sport 4 June 2009 18 March 2023 Nicky Robinson opened the scoring for Wales with a pair of penalties either side of the 10 minute mark, his first points for Wales in almost three years, but United States wing Gavin DeBartolo responded with one of his own a couple of minutes later. Those were to be the United States' only points of the first half, though, and Wales opened up a 27–3 half-time lead. Captain Ryan Jones went off midway through the half, having failed to recover from a head injury suffered in the opening seconds of the match, replaced by debutant Sam Warburton, but tries from Scarlets Mark Jones and Jonathan Davies (his first in international rugby) put Wales 20–3 up with 22 minutes gone. Another Wales back-rower Robin Sowden-Taylor had to be substituted before half an hour had been played, forcing Hibbard into taking over in an unfamiliar position. United States flanker Louis Stanfill was sent to the sin bin for pulling down a maul shortly afterwards, and Wales took advantage of their numerical superiority, forcing the Americans into conceding a penalty try. The United States reduced the deficit to 17 points with the first score of the second half, a try from Alipate Tuilevuka that was converted by DeBartolo, but Tom James restored Wales' lead with a try just past the midway point of the half. James suffered an injury with just over 10 minutes left to play; Cooper came on in his place and scored almost immediately before Davies scored his second try of the game, making JJ Gagiano's late try mere consolation.United States 15-48 Wales https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8084770.stm BBC Sport 6 June 2009 18 March 2023 James and Ryan Jones were sent for scans on their injuries on their return from the tour.Jones and James poised for scans https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8087502.stm BBC Sport 8 June 2009 18 March 2023 6 June 2009 13:00 CDT USA 15–48 Report WAL Tuilevuka 53' cGagiano 80+1' m DeBartolo 54' DeBartolo 13' M. Jones 15' cJ. Davies (2) 21' c, 78' cPenalty try 35' cJames 62' cCooper 70' c Robinson (3) 15', 36', 64'James 22'Biggar (2) 71', 79' Robinson (2) 9', 11' Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois Matt Goddard (Australia) FB 15Chris WylesRW 14Gavin DeBartoloOC 13Alipate TuilevukaIC 12Roland SuniulaLW 11Kevin Swiryn 67FH 10Ata Malifa 42SH 9 Mike Petri (c) 68N8 8 Nic JohnsonOF 7 Peter DahlBF 6 Louis Stanfill 33RL 5 Hayden SmithLL 4 John van der GiessenTP 3 Will Johnson 66HK 2 Chris Biller 56LP 1 Matekitonga Moeakiola 66Replacements:HK 16Brian McClenahan 56PR 17Mike MacDonald 66LK 18Courtney MackayN8 19JJ Gagiano 66SH 20Tim Usasz 68FH 21Mike Hercus 42WG 22Junior Sifa 67Coach:IRE rugby union Eddie O'Sullivan350px FB 15Dan Evans 61RW 14Tom James 69OC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Andrew BishopLW 11Mark JonesFH 10Nicky Robinson 64SH 9 Dwayne PeelN8 8 Ryan Jones (c) 19OF 7 Robin Sowden-Taylor 29BF 6 Dafydd JonesRL 5 Deiniol JonesLL 4 Ian Gough 48TP 3 John Yapp 48 64HK 2 Gareth WilliamsLP 1 Duncan Jones 64Replacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard 29PR 17Craig Mitchell 48LK 18Luke Charteris 48FL 19Sam Warburton 19SH 20Gareth Cooper 69FH 21Dan Biggar 64CE 22Jonathan Spratt 61Coach:WAL Robin McBryde Broadcasting Broadcast rights for the matches were held in Wales by the BBC and S4C. The match against Canada was shown live on BBC Two Wales with highlights on S4C, while the game against the United States was shown live on S4C with highlights on BBC Two Wales. Radio commentaries were provided by BBC Radio Wales for both matches and BBC Radio Cymru for the United States game.BBC and S4C to screen Wales tour https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8035850.stm BBC Sport 14 May 2009 17 March 2023 References Category:2009 rugby union tours Category:Wales national rugby union team tours Category:Wales national rugby union team tours of Canada Category:Rugby union tours of the United States 2009 Category:May 2009 sports events in North America Category:2009 in sports in Ontario Category:2009 in Toronto Category:International sports competitions in Toronto North America Wales Wales