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In light of Canada’s recent struggles at international level a natural conclusion would be that the professional ranks are dwindling outside of the country. While those in ‘Tier 1’ divisions such as the English Premiership and Guinness Pro 14 are certainly hard to come by, there are in fact a growing number hovering just below with second and third division clubs that do give a bit of hope for the future of the senior test side.
The arrival of Major League Rugby has opened up new possibilities. Seven Canucks saw game time with the reigning champion Seattle Seawolves last season, with two more suiting up for the New Orleans Gold. Another eligible put his hand up with the Houston SaberCats, and if the rumor mill is accurate the first Canadian professional rugby franchise is on the verge of being given the green light. There are also suggestions Canadian players will not be considered ‘imports’ for the 2019 MLR season, which further opens the door for those who wish to head south.
Some 50 Canadian-eligible players have been identified below that are either returning from, continuing, or beginning stints outside of the country. This list is not exhaustive but should account for the majority of those who have represented Canada at under-20 level or higher. Of those below, only five have never worn a Canadian jersey at any representative level.
Rather than examining each division, we will instead overview the ‘exiles’ by position this season to give a better idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of Canadian exports.
FRONT ROW
Heavy blokes with a scrum fetish have traditionally been readily available for Canada. While this has not necessarily changed, finding those with top level experience has become something of a challenge in recent years. Perhaps surprising is the number of exiles at the hooker spot, a position that has been identified as a weakness in the national setup.
No less than seven players eligible for Canada have been involved in semi-professional or better environments over the past year. The incumbent, Ray Barkwill, is one of three plying their trade in Major League Rugby. His chief understudy, Eric Howard, is the vice-captain at NOLA and Houston’s first choice rake, Lindsey Stevens, qualifies on account of his Canadian mother.
Benoît Pifféro has been in and out of the test side since making his debut in 2013. He was most recently part of the squad that played against Clermont in France and continues to be the preferred starter at Blagnac in the French third division, Fédérale 1.
Paddy Finlay and Richard Townsend are uncapped graduates of the national u20 side. 23-year-old Finlay has graduated from Trinity College and now plays for Clontarf in the All-Ireland League. In the spring he was selected for an Irish Club XV against Scotland. Townsend, 28, seems to have left pro-level rugby after playing only four matches as a replacement last year for Championship club Richmond.
Another Canadian-eligible hooker overseas is teenager Ewan Ashman, a standout in the Sale Sharks Academy and part of the England u18 training group. He was born in Toronto and has a Canadian father so it’s not complete fantasy that he could make himself available to his country of origin one day.
Pickings are slimmer at prop with only two left in Europe, both tightheads. Jake Ilnicki was little-used by Newcastle Falcons and has switched to the Championship with Yorkshire Carnegie, a move that has already paid dividends with starts in the first two league matches. Matt Tierney is in the last year of his Academy deal at Pau. He has slimmed down considerably and this season will train with the senior squad, with more Top 14 playing time likely after not seeing any last season.
On the loosehead side Hubert Buydens spent the MLR season with New Orleans and is set to return for 2019. Djustice Sears-Duru couldn’t break into the Ealing Trailfinders match day squad and has now returned to Canada where he has joined the Ontario Arrows.
Brumbies reserve tighthead Les Makin remains eligible for Canada thanks to his father and with a World Cup ahead could be tempted as he nears his 27th birthday with just one season left on his Super Rugby deal and no sign of a Wallabies call in sight. Former u20 rep Conor Young, now 23, slipped down the pecking order at Southern Districts and did not win a National Rugby Championship contract this season.
SECOND ROW
As with the front row, Canada’s engine room factory has churned out some top class players over the years though true specimens have been harder to come by of late. Still, it remains the country’s most popular exported position with eight players abroad and another three who while typically play loose forward in Canada are currently used primarily as locks.
Brett Beukeboom has been elevated to the role of captain with Cornish Pirates, where he is now in his fourth Championship season. Conor Keys is a new arrival in England having signed with National One side Rotherham Titans, and ‘A’ international Adrian Wadden is entering his second year at Leeds Beckett University in the BUCS Super League.
Underappreciated by the Newcastle management, Evan Olmstead packing his bags and went south where he is now playing for Auckland in New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup. Josh Larsen is also in the provincial competition with Otago, making the switch from Northland, though he is currently sidelined with an elbow injury. Reegan O’Gorman is in the second-tier Heartland Championship with South Canterbury having impressed at club side Marist Albion.
Cam Polson leveraged his first test caps into a deal with the Seattle Seawolves where he was a key cog in the MLR title-winning side. Current u20 starter Quentin James, son of former World Cup lock Mike, is heading into his second campaign with Perpignan’s Academy side, the club now back in the Top 14 after winning promotion last season.
BACK ROW
Flankers are also a popular export with six on the books elsewhere, though a couple could also be classified as locks. Kyle Baillie might also have been in that boat but a shoulder injury ended his season early and London Scottish opted not to extend his deal for a second season. He remains without a professional contract.
Matt Heaton‘s form at Darlington Mowden Park did not go unnoticed but despite offers from elsewhere it looks like he will return to National One following November’s World Cup Qualifiers. Uncapped tackling machine Justin Blanchet has signed on for a fifth season with Bedford Blues. The former Canada u17 blindside is on his way back from a persistent arm injury. Current u20 openside Peter Ingoldsby has, like Blanchet, been part of the Exeter Chiefs age-grade program and currently plays at Exmouth in South West Premier, one below National Two.
Atlantic Rock openside Moe Abdelmonem had a spell with Spotswood United in Taranaki before returning home for the Canadian Rugby Championship. He is now back in the CDI Premier League with James Bay, where he earned man-of-the-match honors on the weekend. Still in New Zealand is Lucas Albornoz. The Argentine-raised blindside played well enough at lock for Waipu to be included in Northland’s extended squad. He scored two tries for their development side against Taranaki last week.
The most prominent Canadian down south is Tyler Ardron. His first Super Rugby campaign can only be called a success after starting 10 games for the Chiefs, though concussion problems dampened the latter part of the season. Of note is that all but one of his starts came at lock, with only one coming at his Canada position of No8. Ardron is currently turning out for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Matt Beukeboom has followed brother Brett overseas. He splits his time between blindside and second row in Pau’s Academy team. Like clubmate Tierney, Beukeboom has been drafted into the senior squad for training this year. Another promising youngster, uncapped openside Nakai Penny, showed well when given opportunities with the Seawolves in MLR.
HALFBACKS
The halfbacks are certainly an area of instability for Canada and have been so since the retirement of Ed Fairhurst and Ander Monro following the 2011 World Cup. While there are prospects advancing through the ranks, for the time being options are limited.
Phil Mack is favored by Kingsley Jones both at scrumhalf and as captain. He has also taken a step towards his future career, taking over as player-coach at Seattle with great results. He is Canada’s only capped scrumhalf playing outside the country. Canada ‘A’ and u20 select Dan Joyce has been at Trinity College but was not a regular in the 1st XV and it’s unclear where his future lies.
The flyhalf contingent is headlined by incumbent Shane O’Leary, who left Ealing for Nottingham during the off-season. Now fully recovered from a serious ankle injury, he has started both matches for his new club. Joining him in the Championship looks to be Robbie Povey. The club has yet to confirm his signature but he was listed as a Coventry player while appearing on loan for Leicester’s development side in the Premiership Shield (formerly ‘A’ league) match against Worcester on Monday.
Will Kelly has left the Ontario Arrows but the national u20 starter has found a good home in the Dragons Academy at Newport. Over in Ireland there has been no sighting of Dylan Horgan in recent times but u20 trialist Charlie McMickan continues to turn out for Lansdowne in the AIL.
MIDFIELD
Canada’s centre pairings have also been chopped and changed with regularity. Two long-term injury casualties have their careers back on track. Ciaran Hearn has featured on the bench for London Irish in both of their matches thus far after missing a year with a knee injury. Conor Trainor‘s Achillies recovery was completed in March, in time to make a couple starts for Nevers at the end of the Pro D2 season. He has already started three games in the new one.
A new name in England this season is Australian-born Sam Hayward, a Canada select at u20 and ‘A’ level. The 6’5″ (1.96m) utility back has joined Birmingham Moseley in National One after a couple seasons with Parramatta in the Shute Shield. He also spent time with Burnaby Lake in the CDI Premier League, playing flyhalf, centre, and fullback.
The Seawolves employed two Canadian sledgehammers in their midfield stocks this season. Both George Barton and Mozac Samson looked good in their limited time on the field with the former missing out do to concussion and the latter to first-choice Fijian William Rasileka.
OUTSIDE BACKS
Jeff Hassler‘s decision to step away from the sport for the time being was a blow for Canadian confidence ahead of the Repechage. There is no further news on that front though Kingsley Jones has reportedly been on the phone in an attempt to lure him back sooner than later.
On the positive two Canadian wingers are on the books of premier European clubs. DTH van der Merwe‘s treatment at Newcastle was baffling but he is loving life again as first choice with Glasgow Warriors. Taylor Paris struggled with injury and playing time last season at Castres, who won the Top 14. A good preseason sees him in better position, the second of his three-year deal.
Also good news is the signing of Dan Moor by Yorkshire Carnegie. After playing for Oxford University in the Varsity Match, Moor earned a contract in the preseason and has scored in each of Carnegie’s matches. Matt Evans looks to be over his long-term knee injury and is back playing a for Cornish Pirates where he is largely used as a wing.
Record points scorer James Pritchard is still running out regularly with Ampthill in National One. Nearly 20 years younger, uncapped fullback Jack Evans has moved from Llandovery to Cardiff RFC in the Welsh Premier League.
MLR was the home of another exceptional goal kicker in Brock Staller last season. He showed excellent form with the Seawolves before injury ruined his opportunity to play in the final. Another Canada rep enters the league this year. Former ‘A’ fullback Justin Fitzpatrick will play for Rugby United New York. He can also play flyhalf and inside centre and it remains to be seen if he re-enters the selection discussion after being largely overlooked in recent years.
TABLE
| NAME | POS | 2017/18 CLUB | DIV | 2018/19 CLUB | DIV |
| Buydens, Hubert | LH | New Orleans Gold | MLR | New Orleans Gold | MLR |
| Sears-Duru, Djustice | LH | Ealing Trailfinders | RFU | Ontario Arrows | — |
| Young, Conor (u20) | LH | Sydney Rams | NRC | Southern Districts | SS |
| Ashman, Evan* | HO | Sale Sharks (Academy) | EP | Sale Sharks (Academy) | EP |
| Barkwill, Ray | HO | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| Finlay, Paddy (u20) | HO | Trinity College | AIL | Clontarf | AIL |
| Howard, Eric | HO | New Orleans Gold | MLR | New Orleans Gold | MLR |
| Pifféro, Benoît | HO | Blagnac | F1 | Blagnac | F1 |
| Stevens, Lindsay* | HO | Houston SaberCats | MLR | Houston SaberCats | MLR |
| Townsend, Richard (u20) | HO | Richmond | RFU | — | — |
| Ilnicki, Jake | TH | Newcastle Falcons | EP | Yorkshire Carnegie | RFU |
| Makin, Les* | TH | Brumbies | SR | Brumbies | SR |
| Tierney, Matt | TH | Pau (Academy) | T14 | Pau (Academy) | T14 |
| Beukeboom, Brett | LO | Cornish Pirates | RFU | Cornish Pirates | RFU |
| James, Quentin (u20) | LO | Perpignan (Academy) | PD2 | Perpignan (Academy) | T14 |
| Keys, Conor | LO | UVic Vikes | CDI | Rotherham Titans | N1 |
| Larsen, Josh | LO | Northland | M10 | Otago | M10 |
| O’Gorman, Reegan | LO | Marist Albion | NZC | South Canterbury | NZH |
| Olmstead, Evan | LO | Newcastle Falcons | EP | Auckland | M10 |
| Polson, Cam | LO | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| Wadden, Adrian (‘A’) | LO | Leeds Beckett | BUC | Leeds Beckett | BUC |
| Abdelmonem, Moe | FL | Spotswood United | NZC | James Bay | CDI |
| Albornoz, Lucas | FL | Waipu | NZC | Northland ‘B’ | M10 |
| Baillie, Kyle | FL | London Scottish | RFU | — | — |
| Beukeboom, Matt | FL | Pau (Academy) | T14 | Pau (Academy) | T14 |
| Blanchet, Justin (u17) | FL | Bedford Blues | RFU | Bedford Blues | RFU |
| Heaton, Matt | FL | Darlington Mowden Park | N1 | Darlington Mowden Park | N1 |
| Ingoldsby, Peter (u20) | FL | Exmouth | SWP | Exmouth | SWP |
| Penny, Nakai (u20) | FL | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| Ardron, Tyler | N8 | Chiefs | SR | Chiefs | SR |
| Joyce, Dan | SH | Trinity College | AIL | — | — |
| Mack, Phil | SH | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| Kelly, Will | FH | Ontario Arrows | — | Dragons (Academy) | P14 |
| McMickan, Charlie* | FH | Lansdowne | AIL | Lansdowne | AIL |
| O’Leary, Shane | FH | Ealing Trailfinders | RFU | Nottingham | RFU |
| Povey, Robbie | FH | Castaway Wanderers | CDI | Coventry | RFU |
| Barton, George | CE | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| Hayward, Sam (‘A’) | CE | Burnaby Lake | CDI | Birmingham Moseley | N1 |
| Hearn, Ciaran | CE | London Irish | EP | London Irish | RFU |
| Samson, Mozac | CE | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| Trainor, Conor | CE | Nevers | PD2 | Nevers | PD2 |
| Hassler, Jeff | WI | Ospreys | P14 | — | — |
| Moor, Dan | WI | Oxford University | BUC | Yorkshire Carnegie | RFU |
| Paris, Taylor | WI | Castres | T14 | Castres | T14 |
| Staller, Brock | WI | Seattle Seawolves | MLR | Seattle Seawolves | MLR |
| van der Merwe, DTH | WI | Glasgow Warriors | P14 | Glasgow Warriors | P14 |
| Evans, Jack* | FB | Llandovery | WP | Cardiff RFC | WP |
| Evans, Matt | FB | Cornish Pirates | RFU | Cornish Pirates | RFU |
| Fitzpatrick, Jack (‘A’) | FB | Rugby United New York | — | Rugby United New York | MLR |
| Pritchard, James | FB | Ampthill | N1 | Ampthill | N1 |
* – Canadian eligible, AIL – All-Ireland League, BUC – British Universities & Colleges, CDI – CDI Premier League, CNE – Campionato Nazionale Eccellenza (Italy), EP – English Premiership, F1 – Fédérale 1 (France), F2 – Fédérale 2 (France), M10 – Mitre 10 Cup (New Zealand), MLR – Major League Rugby (USA), N1 – National 1 (England), N2 – National 2 (England), N3 – National 3 (England), NRC – National Rugby Championship (Australia), NZC – New Zealand Club, P14 – Guinness Pro 14, PD2 – Pro D2 (France), RFU – Greene King IPA Championship (England), SR – Super Rugby, SS – Shute Shield (Australia), SWP – South West Premier (England), T14 – Top 14 (France), WP – Welsh Principality Premiership
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