Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Canadian prop Tom Dolezel is now a former international. The Ontario Blues standout has been hired on as Head Coach of the Western Mustangs, an esteemed university side in London, Ontario, that has produced numerous provincial and national representatives in the past including current 7s and XVs standout Conor Trainor. An announcement was made in December and the big man has now confirmed that his new appointment combined with a bad arm break that knocked him out of World Cup contention has ended any potential return to international rugby.
“My arm is still a disaster. I may return for the Blues one day, but with coaching now my priority I just don’t have the time to properly rehabilitate and get back to national form.”
A former football lineman who had a brief stint with the Calgary Stampeders after a standout career at Western, Dolezel emerged as a contender for rugby honours in 2009 and after spending several months in New Zealand he made his test debut as a replacement against Russia in November. His first start came against Belgium a year later, and he was considered unlucky to be left out of the 2011 World Cup.
In 2012 Dolezel earned his most notable international appearance as starting loosehead during Canada’s dominant win over Georgia in Vancouver. The last of his 13 test caps came in August 2013 against the USA, though he looked set to earn more in 2015 after a dominant showing at the Pacific Challenge in March, where he showed impressive strength on both sides of the scrum.
Dolezel’s new role begins immediately as he prepares the Mustangs for a tour to Ireland in February. Among the current roster are 2015 Canada u20 flanker Mitch Rothman, 2016 u20 hopeful Peter Milazzo, and Nova Scotia Keltics flyhalf Federico Cisneros.
