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Canadian flanker Nakai Penny has re-signed with the Seattle Seawolves for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 23-year-old enters his third season with the club having joined from the UBC Thunderbirds ahead of the inaugural 2018 season.
Penny enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2019. In February he made his international debut during the Americas Rugby Championship and then took over a starting role for Seattle when Vili Toluta’u was injured. The openside specialist would go on to start 10 matches including the Championship Final win over San Diego.
Despite his outstanding form, Penny was not among Canada’s 31 selected for the Rugby World Cup. He was named in the extended squad but was given almost no opportunity to impress on the field. Seattle fans will be hoping Penny presents another compelling case to Canadian selectors in 2020.
Also confirmed for another year by the Seawolves is reserve hooker Mike Shepherd. The former USA Selects representative has struggled with injury across the two seasons and played only four games in 2019. Shepherd, 30, came off the bench in the 2018 Championship Final victory over Glendale.
