Since we are now using this thread to discuss all things canadian rugby:
CANADIAN OVERSEAS SEASON PREVIEW
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Friday, September 6, 2013 - Submitted by Curtis Reed - Rugby Canada Contributor
With the Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect Pro12 season getting underway this weekend, it's time to check in with Canadians overseas.
Jebb Sinclair returns for another season with London Irish. The Exiles had a disappointing campaign last season finishing in a tie for ninth place in the Premiership table with only seven wins. Sinclair played in ten of those matches, starting six times. London Irish have brought in new coach, Brian Smith as the team looks to climb into the top half of the Premiership table this season. Sinclair will look to make his mark not only in the Premiership, but also in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Phil Mackenzie has made the move from relegated London Welsh, where he scored eight tries, to Sale. The Sharks had a difficult season last year and only avoided the drop thanks to a late London Welsh collapse and point deduction. Mackenzie is one of a number of reinforcements brought in to help the team avoid the relegation battle yet again. In Europe, Sale find themselves in Pool 1 of the Amlin Challenge Cup with Biarritz, Worcester, and Oyonnax.
Over in the RaboDirect Pro12, young stars Tyler Ardron and Jeff Hassler are getting ready for their first season with the Ospreys. The Welsh-side had an up and down year last season after being hit with injuries, and Ardron and Hassler will be looking to bring stability to the team by providing depth. Hassler in particular has already made his mark and will be on the Ospreys bench as they open the season against Benetton Treviso. DTH van der Merwe returns to Glasgow where he has been for the last four seasons. He had ten tries for the club last season and is looking to add even more to his total this season. Both the Ospreys and the Warriors will compete in the Heineken Cup.
The most concentrated source of professional Canadian players lies in the Greene King IPA Championship, formerly known as the RFU Championship. Canada captain Aaron Carpenter has left long-time employers Plymouth Albion and will join fellow Canadian Matt Evans at Cornish Pirates. Evans led last year's competition with 14 tries. The loss of Carpenter from Plymouth Albion hasn't left the side without their strong contingent of Canadians. Sean-Michael Stephens will captain the team and will be joined by Brett Beukeboom. The Pirates will look to make it into the playoffs having just missed out last season, while Plymouth will be trying to move up the table.
James Pritchard returns for his eighth season at Bedford. He led the team last season with 182 points as they missed out on promotion to the Premiership, falling to Newcastle in the final. Rounding out the Canadian contingent in the competition is Tyler Hotson, who will suit up once again for London Scottish. Hotson started 17 matches for his team last season, scoring two tries. All Greene King IPA teams will also be involved in the British & Irish Cup.
Over in France, Jamie Cudmore and Clermont will try to get over the sting of losing to Castres in the Top 14 semi-finals after finishing the regular season at the top of the table. They will also be trying to claim the Heineken Cup ***le that Toulon took in the final of that tournament. Cudmore suffered a broken hand in the first World Cup Qualifying match against the U.S., which has forced him out of the lineup through four rounds of his ninth season with Clermont. He will likely spend most of his time playing for Clermont's reserve side. Another Canadian has made his way to the Top 14 as U-20 fly-half Shane O'Leary has joined Grenoble's academy from Young Munster in Ireland.
In the Pro D2, Taylor Paris has made the move to Agen from Glasgow in order to get more playing time. The move is already paying off. After playing in one match Paris has nearly exceeded his minute total from all of last season. He will be a key fixture for Agen as they look to earn promotion back to the Top 14. Jason Marshall has moved to La Rochelle after spending the last two seasons at Aurillac. La Rochelle made the D2 playoffs, but were bounced out in the first round by Pau. Cam Pierce will play for Pau this season after spending the last two years with the Clermont reserves.
In the lower divisions around Europe Jon Phelan has signed a contract with Lille in the French Federale 1. Meanwhile Mark Kohler has moved from Bedford to Coventry in the English National League One. The moves should allow both players to see regular playing time. U-20 player Jack Fitzpatrick will once again play for Dublin University and Trinity .
Down in the Southern Hemisphere Hubert Buydens is in the midst of his first season with Manawatu. Buydens has played and started in two of Manawatu's three matches so far. Unfortunately, the side remains winless and at the bottom of the Championship table with just one point. Over in Australia, Evan Olmstead wrapped up his first season with Parramatta in the Shute Shield. Parramatta finished 10th out of 12 teams.
http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsl ... page=72518
