Austin Elite have secured the signature of Egyptian-Canadian flanker Moe Abdelmonem. The 26-year-old turned out for the side during the preseason but was unable to suit up during the regular season due to visa delays. He will now be available for Austin’s next game against Glendale on March 9.
A dynamic openside specialist, Abdelmonem is regarded as one of the top flankers in Canada yet to be capped. He emigrated from Egypt to Halifax in 2009. After outstanding performances with Saint Mary’s University and the Tars RFC he earned a starting role with the Nova Scotia Keltics provincial side and then the regional Atlantic Rock in the Canadian Rugby Championship.
Canadian Selectors took notice of his CRC form and rewarded him with a spot in the carded program while he made the move west to join James Bay. It was with the Victoria club that he got his first taste of Major League Rugby, playing against the Houston SaberCats in a preseason match in January of last year.
Abdelmonem is the first of a handful of reinforcements expected to arrive for the Elite in the coming days. Doug Fraser will arrive following the completion of the Americas Rugby Championship with another Canadian addition set to be confirmed later this week.