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Jake Ilnicki is headed back to Australia. The 23-year-old tighthead prop has signed to play for the New South Wales (NSW) Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship (NRC), whose season kicked off earlier today with a 32-31 victory over the Greater Sydney Rams. The Rams have current Canada squad member Evan Olmstead on their books, but look unlikely to see him in action with a World Cup almost certainly in his near future.
The former national u20 captain was left out of Canada’s final World Cup preparations by head coach Kieran Crowley after featuring only once in the Pacific Nations Cup, against the US Eagles. A surprise omission after being tipped by many to be included following a strong showing in the Pacific Challenge this past March, he has won seven senior caps since making his debut against Georgia in 2013.
Ilnicki returns to Australia having previously spent four months with Eastern Suburbs following the Pacific Challenge, starting 14 of 18 matches in Sydney’s premier club competition, the Shute Shield. A second Canadian, utility forward Kyle Baillie, was also part of the Easts squad.
This will be his second stint with the NSW Country Eagles after joining them mid-season a year ago and starting in five NRC matches. Both Easts and Eagles are coached by Darren Coleman, a former Waratahs skills coach who spent several seasons coaching in Calgary with both club side Saints, and the Mavericks from the now-defunct Super League.
