Rhys Jacks is in for a busy day Saturday.
The 35-year-old halfback will coach the Canadian under-19 rugby league team against Jamaica before captaining the senior Canada Wolverines later in the day against the Reggae Warriors.
The games, on the camps of the University of West Indies in Montego Bay, are a fundraiser for relief from last month’s hurricane Melissa.
“When we drive to training we can see the areas damaged by the storm,” said Canada coach Aaron Zimmerle.
Where Canada is staying has “minimal damage,” he reported. But other buildings are missing roofs and windows.
The Canadian players, who dug into their own pocket to pay for the trip, have brought supplies ranging from books to calculators to rugby gear to donate to the university.
Australian-born and -bred, Jacks qualifies for Canada through his Toronto-born grandfather. He played a season for the now-defunct Toronto Wolfpack before continuing his career in Australia.
Zimmerle, who is also based in Australia, has brought down a domestic squad other than Jacks. There are 12 debutants in the tour group with some veterans like captain Blake Mahovic unavailable due to work commitments.
It’s the first outing for the Wolverines since October 2024 when they beat Jamaica 28-6 at Toronto’s Lamport Stadium. That contest was the first for the Canadian men since a 16-16 tie with the United States in March that year in Las Vegas.
“Playing against Canada always brings out the best in us,” Jamaica head coach Roy Calvert said. “No doubt they will start as favourites after defeating us when we last played them. We don’t need to do anything special, just trust our systems and each other.”
Zimmerle expects a physical challenge from Jamaica.
Rugby league is the lesser-known rugby code, often overshadowed by rugby union outside of league strongholds in Australia and the north of England. Rugby league is a physical 13-a-side game that features punishing forward play and slashing attacks by elusive backs.
Zimmerle was born in Surrey, B.C., to a Canadian mother and Australian father, moving to Australia when he was 10. He went on to play semi-pro, spending time in the reserve grade with the Penrith Panthers organization and then in the regional Queensland Cup and New South Wales Cup.
Today he is a teacher at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School on the Gold Coast. Known for its Sports Excellence program, the school has won several national championships and sent more than 50 players to Australia’s National Rugby League.
From the other side of the world, he is trying to help build the game in Canada.
After a series of setbacks, the 2025 Rugby League World Cup is now being held in 2026 with Canada denied a shot at one of the two remaining berths in the 10-team field.
The vacancies eventually went to No. 8 France, which blanked No. 18 Jamaica 36-0 in a Northern Hemisphere playoff, and the ninth-ranked Cook Islands, which downed No. 26 South Africa 56-8 in a Southern Hemisphere decider.
Canadian officials were told to build their domestic game. The Canada men are currently rated 30th in the world, a ranking largely due to lack of activity.
Zimmerle hopes that interest in the game in North America grows with the NRL’s now-annual visits to Las Vegas. The NRL kicked off its season in Vegas in March.
Canada Wolverines (x- designates on debut)
Jason Chuck (Brampton Beavers), x-Kav Hegoda Gamage (Brampton Beavers), Chuck Curran (Brantford Broncos), Greg Wise (Brantford Broncos), x-Colin Crozier (Durham Dawgs, x-Qais Nasseri (Durham Dawgs), x-Doug Howard (Leichhardt Wanderers), Jacob Bourne (Point Grey Thunder), x-Augustus Murphy (Royal City Goons), x-Blake Marshall (The Southport School, Gold Coast), x-Dan Martyn (Toronto City Saints), x-Kieran Reid (Toronto City Saints), x-Jalen Harrison (Valley Vipers), x-Oliver Lenahan (Valley Vipers), x-Darian Archer (Valley Warriors), Scyler Dumas (Vancouver Dragons), x-Toby Horn (Whistler Wolves), Rhys Jacks (unattached), Robin Legault (unattached).
Canada Under-19 Wolverines
Miguel Smith (Brampton Beavers), Jack Smart (Brantford Harlequins), Alex Paddle (Brit Lions RC), Blake Pollock (Durham Dawgs), Doug Howard (Leichhardt Wanderers), Otis Long Hei Chan (Point Grey Thunder), Blake Marshall (The Southport School, Gold Coast), Oliver Lenahan (Valley Vipers), Wyatt Klasen (Valley Vipers), Cameron Seed (Whistler Wolves), Will August (Whistler Wolves), Michael Chandler (Whistler Wolves), Brady Nooski (Whistler Wolves), Josh Wheeler (Whistler Wolves).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
