Canada emerged as the second team from the Americas qualification process behind Argentina after beating the USA 56-7 in the northern final. The obvious target for Canada is to finish third and qualify for New Zealand in four year's time but if they secure a surprise in the opener against Wales it will throw Pool B wide open.

The country are no strangers to the World Cup either and they have come close to a few high profile scalps before, most notably when losing 19-13 to France in 1991 before falling 29-13 to defending champions New Zealand in the quarter-finals that same year.

• Morgan Williams
  The 31-year-old scrumhalf will be making his third World Cup appearance and after spells with Stade Francais and Saracens is perhaps the most experienced of the Canadian side. The Ontario-born player has been an ever present for Canada since the 1999 tournament and played in three of Canada’s four 2003 World Cup matches. He captained his country for the first time in the impressive 22-15 win over Argentina in July 2005. Williams continued to lead the side in the World Cup qualifying wins over Barbados and USA last year. Currently playing in France’s Top 14 with Albi, Williams will be crucial to Canada's hopes of springing an upset in the group stages.
• Kevin Tkachuk
  One of the more familiar Canadian faces to Irish rugby fans, Tkachuk has been plying his trade in the Celtic League with the Glasgow Warriors since 2004. The muscular prop, named his club's player of the year in 2006, has made a habit of scoring tries in the competition, scoring his first against Ulster back in 2004. A gridiron and wrestling star in his native country before focusing on rugby, Tkachuk has established himself in Canada’s frontrow since his debut against Tonga in 2000. Tkachuk, who turns 31 on September 11th, brings great experience to Canada’s pack and has not ruled out the possibility of playing in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
• Jamie Cudmore
  The secondrow played in all of Canada’s matches in the 2003 World Cup and later signed for Llanelli. Now with French side ASM Clermont Auvergne, he was an integral part of this season’s European Challenge Cup-winning side. Nicknamed "Cuddles" by his Canada team-mates, the combative lock is anything but gentle on the playing field. He moved to France initially to play for Grenoble in 2004 before moving to Clermont a season later. He is well established at the Top 14 club and has signed a contract that will keep him at the Parc des Sports into 2009.

• Forwards
  David Biddle, Mike Burak, Aaron Carpenter, Jamie Cudmore, Scott Franklin, Mike James, Adam Kleeberger, Dan Pletch, Mike Pletch, Pat Riordan, Rod Snow, David Spicer, Sean-Michael Stephen, Luke Tait, Jon Thiel, Kevin Tkachuk, Mike Webb, Colin Yukes
• Backs
  Craig Culpan, Derek Daypuck, Ed Fairhurst, Justin Mensah-Coker, Ander Monro, James Pritchard, Mike Pyke, Ryan Smith, Nick Trenkel, DTH Van der Merwe, Matt Weingart, Morgan Williams (captain)