The second largest country in the world in terms of size, and with a population of just over 31 million people, Canada became a self-governing division of the British Empire on 1 July 1867 but has retained ties with the United Kingdom to this day.
Canada stretches over six world time zones and is divided into 10 provinces and three territories with rugby enjoying the most popularity in the Toronto, British Colombia and Vancouver areas of the country.
Rugby was introduced into Canada by sailors and soldiers in the 1860s with the first recorded game taking place in Montreal in 1864, four years before the first club was formed there, although the Rugby Union of Canada was not formed until 1929.
This was reformed in 1965 and then incorporated as Rugby Canada nine years later, with membership of the International Rugby Board coming in the year of their participation in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.
Canada has around 13,000 seniors and twice as many juniors playing the game across its vast expanse in more than 200 clubs with the leading domestic competitions being the Rugby Canada Super League and BCRU Premier League.