Canada are the first team to officially confirm their squad for the competition. The squad also includes former Glasgow trialist Chauncey O'Toole who was in fine form in the recent Churchill Cup.
The one prominent omission is veteran prop Kevin Tkachuk who left the Warriors at the end of last season and looked set to round off his distinguished career in New Zealand.
The men from North America will turn out in Pool A with New Zealand, France, Japan and Tonga.
Canada squad:
Forwards: Ryan Hamilton, Pat Riordan (captain), Hubert Buydens, Scott Franklin, Jason Marshall, Andrew Tiedemann, Frank Walsh, Jamie Cudmore, Brian Erichsen, Tyler Hotson, Aaron Carpenter, Nanyak Dala, Adam Kleeberger, Jeremy Kyne, Chauncey O'Toole, Jebb Sinclair.
Backs: Ed Fairhurst, Jamie Mackenzie, Sean White, Nathan Hirayama, Ander Monro, Ryan Smith, Conor Trainor, Phil Mackenzie, Mike Scholz, DTH van der Merwe, Ciaran Hearn, Taylor Paris, Matt Evans, James Pritchard