Back-to-back yellow cards to Canada’s props — Calixto Martinez for a high tackle and Emerson Prior for collapsing a maul — had handed momentum back to Spain. A penalty try and another Bontempo kick brought the score to 23-21.
The match wrapped July’s test window for Canada ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup.
Canada opens against the United States in Calgary on Aug. 22 in a match that doubles as the start of Canada’s 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign.
“I think we showed we have the talent to hang with everyone,” Oworu said after the loss to Spain.
“When we were pushing to score at the end, we just slipped for half-a-second, and that’s just test rugby. It’s a game of inches, and we just missed on that last inch.”
“As long as we play in the right places and listen to our shot-callers, there’s no need to search for other answers — all the answers are in the room. We’re confident.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2025.
The Canadian Press