Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Canadian fans got some good news from the United Kingdom this weekend with the return of Jeff Hassler to the field after 10 long months on the sidelines recovering from an Achilles injury. The Ospreys winger wasted no time getting back in the groove as he scored a try in the second half in the 40-14 loss to Leicester in pre-season action at Welford Road, adding a try-saving tackle on the other end of the field.
Hassler has won 17 caps for Canada since his debut against the USA in 2012 but has yet to make an appearance in the Maple Leaf since the 2015 World Cup. A return to form and fitness for Ospreys will be first and foremost on his mind as he enters the last year of his current deal with the club he joined in 2013. It would be a major boost to the Canadian side were he to be available for the November tests and the all-important World Cup Qualifying series against Uruguay in January.
Former Ospreys teammate Tyler Ardron was also in action on the weekend, albeit on the other side of the world. The World Cup captain started his second consecutive match at No 8 for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup provincial competition. Ardron signed a two-year Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs earlier this year and will start preparations for that competition in earnest following the November test series.
