RUGBY Canada have named the 10 professional players who arrived yesterday to bolster Gogledd Cymru’s bid for semi-professional rugby.
The players are all part of the Sport Canada government carding programme
and will receive their regular salary while participating in the four-month schedule that will see the North Wales side play a variety of professional academy sides and semi-pro clubs.
Four of the Canadian players come via the Prairie Wolf Pack of the Americas Rugby Championship.
Centre Nick Blevins, prop Tom Dolezel (also an Ontario Blue) along with fly-half Steve Woodward make the move, while flanker Nanyak Dala is delayed while recovering from a facial injury sustained during Canada’s recent tour to Japan.
Second-row Luke Cudmore and Sean White of the BC Bears will also figure into the squad, while the Ontario Blues add prop Doug Wooldridge.
The Rock contribute three key players with Newfoundland’s Ciaran Hearn fulfilling a back three role, and flanker Chauncey O’Toole and second row/back row Jebb Sinclair also getting the nod.
Former Grand Slam-winning coach Clive Griffiths was announced as head coach for Gogledd Cymru last month, with existing coach John Aby staying on as an assistant.
THE CANADIAN 10: Nick Blevins – centre (Prairie Wolf Pack), Luke Cudmore – second-row (BC Bears), Nanyak Dala – flanker (Prairie Wolf Pack), Tom Dolezel – prop (Prairie Wolf Pack and Ontario Blues), Ciaran Hearn – back-row (Atlantic Rock), Chauncey O’Toole – back-row (Atlantic Rock), Jebb Sinclair – second-row/back-row (Atlantic Rock), Sean White – scrum-half (BC Bears), Doug Wooldridge – prop (Ontario Blues), Steve Woodward – fly-half (Prairie Wolf Pack).
NORTH WALES FIXTURES 2010: January 15 v Leicester Tigers Development XV (Eirias Park), January 20 v Antiassassins – Chester (away), January 30 v Glamorgan Wanderers (away), February 2/3 v Scarlets (Llandovery), February 17 v Worcester (Eirias Park), February 23 v Sale Jets (Eirias Park), March 10 v Leeds (Eirias Park), March 19 v Oxford University (Eirias Park), April 17 v Cross Keys (Eirias Park).