Matt Heaton will stay with Darlington Mowden Park for at least one more season. The Canadian flanker has re-signed with the semi-pro National One outfit for the 2017-18 season after playing a leading role during his first year at the club. Heaton, 24, made the switch to Mowden Park from National Two club Otley last summer.
After spending two years with the Canadian u20 side, the mobile loose forward graduated to Canada ‘A’ honors in 2013 and then the senior men’s national team in 2016. He won the first of his five caps to date as a replacement against Japan last June, and started back-to-back tests at openside flanker against Romania and Samoa in November.
A native of Godmanchester, Quebec, Heaton is the second Montreal local to secure their spot in England next season in recent days, following Bedford Blues blindside Justin Blanchet.