A detailed look at Canada’s twenty-odd leading players plying their trade overseas, most of whom are doing well but it’s not all good news from across the pond.
The big news in the past few days is that D.T.H. van der Merwe has had major shoulder surgery ruling him out of all rugby until September. Injuries have limited his involvement to just 5 out of 15 tests for Canada since the World Cup, and it looks unlikely that he’ll be available at all this year given that he’ll only just be returning to action with Glasgow come November and will want to repay their faith given his contract is set to run out in 2015. It’s a shame as he was enjoying a run of excellent form and has become a firm fan favourite at Scotstoun renowned for his all-in commitment and ability to break tackles.
On a considerably more upbeat note is that Canada’s other two RaboDirect Pro 12 representatives have been doing very well in their first year at Ospreys. November tour captain Tyler Ardron has started 10 matches, all but one on the flank, and has been used as lock cover from the bench on several occasions. Jeff Hassler has established himself as a first choice winger, usually on the right, starting 14 matches and scoring 3 tries. Both will be in Ospreys colours once again next season.
Looking east towards London we find Jebb Sinclair continuing to excel for London Irish. After filling in at lock earlier in the season he has been used exclusively in the back row and is a constant presence in the match day roster, starting 11 matches to date and scoring his first European try in January against the Lusitanos from Spain in the Amlin Challenge Cup. Since being loaned to Western Province at the start of his pro career, Sinclair has established himself as an integral part of the club and has been rewarded with an extended contract until 2016.
Phil Mackenzie’s has settled in at Sale and though he has faced stiff competition from a mix of established veterans and young up-and-comers, he has started 7 matches and played well when given the opportunity, though he won’t want to be seeing Alafoti Fa’osiliva again any time soon… He will be with Sale again come September.
One step down in the Championship are 6 Canadian-eligible players. Brett Beukeboom has recently extended his contract with mid-table Plymouth Albion, having started the majority of matches in the no4 jersey since missing the start of the season through suspension and national duties. Former club captain Sean-Michael Stephen has been in Plymouth since 2008 and remains a first choice player in the back row, but hasn’t worn a Canadian jersey since 2010. While his fastest days are probably behind him, his size, experience, and ability to cover lock could be of interest heading towards the World Cup.
Aaron Carpenter left the club at the end of last season to take up residency further west in Penzance, with the proudly named Cornish Pirates. Injury at the start of the season scuppered a chance to establish himself, but he has started the past two matches at no8, while also seeing action at hooker for the first time since 2007. Given Canada’s lack of depth at the position and continued concern over the long-term availability of Ryan Hamilton, the captain is being looked at as an unlikely short-term solution at the problem position.
Fellow Pirate Matt Evans has been shifted around with Canada and while flyhalf is his preferred position it looked as though fullback would be his spot in national colours, but he has at last been given an opportunity to show his mettle, having started two matches in the no10 jersey in recent weeks. Including the ARC, some 9 players have been trialled by Canada at the pivot position, with none establishing a foothold on the spot. If Evans can continue to get game time there with his club, he could be the answer heading towards 2015.
Second row regular Tyler Hotson joined London Scottish from Plymouth in 2012 and has been a mainstay in the side ever since. He calls the lineout and is considered one of the most consistent players at the club.
Less known to Canadian fans is Richard Townsend, currently under contract at Ealing Trailfinders. Born in England but eligible for Canada through his BC-born grandmother, he played both loosehead prop and hooker for the u20 side at the 2009 IRB championships. These days he’s exclusively a hooker, but despite Ealing’s lowly status at the bottom of the league table he has struggled to find game time with England u20 and Romanian internationals ahead of him in the pecking order.
A new face in England this year is highly promising flanker Matt Heaton. Hailing from the Ste- Anne-de-Bellevue club in Montreal, the 2-time member of the national u20 side impressed with the Rock in this past year’s CRC and after spending a short time with Bridgend Athletic in Wales has now moved to Leeds, England, where he is spending time with neighboring National League 2 club Otley. It’s a far cry from full-on professional rugby, but it will be a good experience for the young man and hopefully a stepping stone to future honours.
Speaking of Montreal natives, another esteemed graduate of that club is Jon Phelan, the towering lock who signed for Fédérale 1 club Lille Métropole ahead of this season. Phelan has found chances extremely limited this season, starting only twice, as his club is limited to only one foreigner per game, a spot which has been occupied by former Wallaby centre Morgan Turinui. It’s hoped that the Australian will soon receive his French citizenship papers, but until then it’s regular run-outs with the reserve side.
Another Fédérale 1 resident is newly capped Benoît Piffero. The hooker hopeful moved back to France to work in the aeronautical industry and play for Blagnac, but has struggled to get a foothold at his new club, with only a handful of reserve appearances for the first team thus far.
The tough going in France doesn’t end there, as top lock prospect Cameron Pierce continues to dwell in the centre du formation of Pau, blocked from 1st team appearances by four experienced professionals. With few second row prospects fitting the requisite size for an international lock available to Canada and George Kruis opting to pursue England honours, the development of Pierce is hugely important, but somewhat worrying given his limited opportunities.
Tighthead prop Jason Marshall is yet another having a less-than-ideal season. Injuries hampered the beginning of his season at La Rochelle, and his only appearance since has been as a reserve in mid-December. Blocking his path is club captain and hugely impressive Samoan giant Uini Atonio who despite numerous offers from bigger clubs is signed until 2016. Marshall’s contract expires at the end of the season and it’s looking increasingly likely that he’ll be off to pastures new.
Happily there is good news from the south, in Agen to be specific, as Taylor Paris has enjoyed an excellent season with his new club, starting 15 games on the wing ahead of former Junior All Black Viliame Waqaseduadua. The young star has scored 7 tries, good enough for 3rd in the league, and with his club inches ahead of La Rochelle in the promotion hunt there’s every chance he could be testing himself against the best of the Top 14 next season.
Speaking of which more good news came a couple weeks ago as Jamie Cudmore signed a one year extension at Clermont Auvergne, keeping him at the club up to the World Cup, a great sign for Canada. The giant enforcer seems to be mellowing with age, with no cards to his name in 12 appearances this season!
Rounding up our French tour we head just west to Grenoble, the home of last year’s u20 flyhalf Shane O’Leary. It was a curious thing indeed that Irish-born O’Leary wasn’t summoned for the November tour, particularly when Liam Underwood suffered concussion, and one hopes that he is still in the sights heading forwards. After being signed to a development contract he has been training with the senior side and managed 5 appearances in the Challenge Cup, including a full game at centre against Wasps in December.
The other Irish lad from that team was Jack Fitzpatrick, primarily a fullback but also utilised as a stop-gap flyhalf in the ARC. The former Leinster junior rep is in fine form for Trinity College, starting regularly at the back for the All-Ireland Divison 1 team.
Jake Ilnicki spent last season with the Auckland Colts before impressing with the ARC and senior touring sides, and could be headed there again, though a stint in France could also be on offer.
Lastly a mention for Evan Olmstead, the Australian-born member of the 2011 u20 side. A Super Rugby contract hasn’t quite emerged for the young man, though he has been a regular for Parramatta and a likely participant in the newly created National Rugby Championship, a new professional competition set to get underway later this year. Splitting his time between lock and blindside flank, Olmstead has bulked up a bit and might be worth a look, though one wonders if perhaps a move north to compete in the CRC might help his chances.
