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Evan Olmstead is staying on at Agen. Writing for Rugby Rama, Matheu Vich reports that the native of British Columbia, Canadian has signed a new deal to remain at the Pro D2 club for a further two seasons.
Olmstead has been a regular for Agen in France’s second division. He has played both flanker and second-row with the latter position being where he has particularly stood out for Agen. It has seen the club offering him a new deal; Olmstead was due to depart the club at the end of this season.
Other Pro D2 clubs are reported to have been interested in Olmstead too. Agen is his second. He joined the club in 2022 from Biarritz whom he played for from 2019-2022. Earlier in his professional career he played for the Newcastle Falcons and London Scottish in England as well as Auckland in New Zealand.
Olmstead made his test debut for Canada in 2005. It was in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Samoa. He was named on the roster for the World Cup that year and played against Italy in Leeds and France in Milton Keynes. He was a replacement in both matches.
Olmstead became a starter for Canada in 2016 and held down a starting spot throughout the Rugby World Cup 2015-2019 cycle. This included Rugby World Cup Qualifiers. At the World Cup itself Olmstead started against New Zealand in Oita and against South Africa in Kobe.
Rugby World Cup 2023 was the first Men’s World Cup tournament without Canada. Olmstead did not play in the elimination qualifier against Chile.
