Canadian Rugby Forums » Men's National Teams

Canadian Players Overseas

(25 posts)

  1. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  2. Rugbyball
    Member

    I did a little research (see below) - it seems we have 23 players who are playing overseas professionally and 5 others at amateur level.

    Have I missed any others?

    I am sure the amateur guys will soon be able to sign a pro contract unless they are returning to Canada - but I think this is a healthy sign of the development of rugby in Canada. I wonder if this is the most it has ever been?

    Canadian Players Overseas (Professional)

    Scotland - Magners League
    Kevin Tkachuk Glasgow Warriors Senior Mens
    Dan vd Merve Glasgow Warriors SM

    England - Championship
    James Pritchard Bedford Blues SM
    Ed Fairhurst Cornish Pirates SM
    Mike Burak Cornish Pirates SM
    Scott Franklin Cornish Pirates SM
    Justin Mensah Coker Plymouth SM
    Sean Michael Stephen Plymouth SM
    Oliver Atkinson Moseley SM
    Ryan Tomlinson Birmingham
    Stu Alut Birmingham SM

    England - National 1
    Chuck Baumberg Esher
    David Johnston Nuneaton Under 20

    England - Academy
    Richard Townsend Gloucester U20
    Seb Pearson Leicester U20

    France - Top 14
    Jamie Cudmore Clermont SM
    Luke Tait Montois SM

    France - Division 2
    Josh Jackson Bordeaux SM

    France - Federale 1
    Luke Cudmore SM
    Steve Piatek Under 21
    Steve Chapheau

    Italy - Serie A
    Ander Monro Colorno SM

    Japan - Top League
    Colin Yukes Yokogawa SM

    Canadian Players Overseas (Amateur)

    England - College level
    Matt Evans Hartpury SM
    Dakota Poole Hartpury U20

    England - High School level
    Kyle Armstrong Truro U20
    Justin Blanchet Sudbrooke Under 17
    Sam Blanchet Sudbrooke U17

    Posted 2 years ago #

  3. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  4. seven
    Member

    "but I think this is a healthy sign of the development of rugby in Canada."

    A healthy sign of the development of rugby in Canada would be if these guys stayed here, cause the rugby and the money was better. As it now it weaken our rugby. Who does our domestic players challenage themselves against.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  5. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  6. Rugbyball
    Member

    seven, broadly speaking I agree - but realistically this may be some years away! For now, i think this is a really encouraging sign that our best players are competing in some of the best leagues in the world. This can only help our overall game to progress - at least at the international level.

    To your point - until a pro league is established in CA/NA the domestic game will always be playing catch up.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  7. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  8. Rugbyball
    Member

    ..oh, and one more I found:

    Bryn Keys has signed for Moseley (England, Championship)

    Posted 2 years ago #

  9. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  10. Harry Craig
    Member

    Carpenter has signed with Coventry I believe. Luke Cudmore is in D2 I believe as Mointois was relegated last year. In Italy I think Mike Barbieri and Phil Murphy are still playing. Mark Fisher and Josh Dunning are still playing in the Shute Sield in Sydney. I think that adds a further five to your total. Any more information on David Johston and Richard Townsend, I do not recall either name. Yes it would be better for other players here in Canada to be able to play against these guys regularly but would it help them more than playing against better competition, not to mention being able to earn a living.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  11. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  12. lovethegame
    Member

    Harry where is Casey Dunning these days have you heard?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  13. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  14. Rugbyball
    Member

    Harry - thanks; good catch! Aaron Carpenter and also Phil Mckenzie have both signed with Coventry (not sure when Aaron will be able to play given the arm break!).

    David Johnston (fly half) and Richard Townsend (prop) were both U20 squad players - Johnston a bit younger, but one to watch as he is already playing pro league at 18. Both I believe have come through the English system (so, I assume Canadian parents or something).

    You were right - Murphy is playing for Viadana and Barbieri with Treviso

    Posted 2 years ago #

  15. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  16. chunkylover53
    Member

    Capellen?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  17. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  18. shack
    Member

    looks like switching to the new website didn`t get rid of all the crap from the blog crawlers

    Posted 2 years ago #

  19. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  20. Harry Craig
    Member

    Just saw that Michael Barbieri is no longer with Treviso, not sure if he has signed elsewhere and on another post it looks like Adam Kleeburger has signed with Rotherham.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  21. Rugbyball
    Member

    And Justin Mensah Coker has left Plymouth and has signed for Moseley for the coming season.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  22. lovethegame
    Member

    What kind of money are these guys signing for to play overseas? Does anyone know?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  23. Faust
    Moderator

    Is Phil Murphy still playing overseas?
    "Phil Murphy (born 4 December 1976 in Newfoundland, Canada) is an Irish Canadian rugby union footballer who plays at No 8.

    He previously played for London Irish and French side Perpignan.

    He has 19 caps for his native Canada, although he has four caps at schoolboy level for Ireland. He has also played for the French Barbarians. In Canada he played for Oakville Crusaders. He made 126 appearances for the Exiles, scoring 10 tries. Murphy graduated from the University of Victoria, Canada.

    In February 2008 it was announced that Murphy was to leave London Irish.[1] to join Italian side Viadana."

    Posted 2 years ago #

  24. Rugbyball
    Member

    lovethegame, these guys are probably not making as much money as people might think - there is money in rugby, but nothing like other sports.

    Maybe in the English Championship (ie Tier 2) they may be making something like CA$35k - 50k a year. Some more some less...depending on who they are. Clubs would also try to help out with finding jobs, subsidised housing etc. In the National 1 division (Tier 3) it will be less.

    Of course top players in the English Premiership (Tier 1) will earn CA$600k plus a year - and with endorsements, sponsorships this can run up to CA$9m for the top English players.

    Like most things in life the best make great money, but most do it for the craic! I don`t think Canadian players come to Europe for the money, but for the experience and to develop their game as far as they can go - and thats still the place to be.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  25. Rugbyball
    Member

    Faust, I believe Phil is still with Viadana - he was a great servant to London Irish and should have played for Canada much more than he did do IMHO!

    Posted 2 years ago #

  26. Harry Craig
    Member

    Mike Barbieri played for Yeomen on the weekend.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  27. winger14
    Moderator

    Harold...Remember the rules...

    Winger14

    Posted 2 years ago #

  28. Faust
    Moderator

    Winger, he posted something that was informative and related to the thread which is something that many others have not done. Since I am not a mod, I will plead my case. The complaint about Harry is that he had to say something about everything (generally something that all refs do), but if his post is informative and on topic, there should be no reason to delete his posts or punish him.
    Thanks Harry for the information and hopefully we will meet and have some beers.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  29. winger14
    Moderator

    In this case I agree. He also did another one line post on another thread, which I would humbly suggest had less value...

    Winger14

    Posted 2 years ago #

  30. Harry Craig
    Member

    How many of your post have any value winger.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  31. Faust
    Moderator

    Let us keep personal comments personal and use the PM feature, and not air our personal attacks.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  32. Harry Craig
    Member

    I see Michael Barbieri is now with L'Aquila, newly promoted to the Top 10. I know he isn't eligible for Canada but he learned the game here and I reffed him in high school so it's nice to follow his career. Let's hope he can get back into the Italian side.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  33. Harry Craig
    Member

    I just noticed that I put Michael instead of Robert Barbieri in the above post. Now I see that Michael is listed as a reserve for this weekend's game so I guess he is back in the pro ranks after turning out for the Yeomen over the summer. I haven't seen Phil Murphy listed with Viadana at all, does anyone know if he is till playing there, maybe just injured.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  34. rusty_lock
    Member

    I see Cudmore was red carded again and faces another disciplinary hearing. you gotta wonder when he is going to learn. Great player and all but completely undisciplined has to be hurting his career.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  35. CanNZ
    Member

    Right now I think it is best for Canadian Rugby to send our best players overseas. I hope that would make them better which should help our National team. I think Canada should follow Argentina's model of developing and improving their players.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  36. Faust
    Moderator

    The issue is that they do not release the players for National games. I remember one game in which the French clubs released its players to the French team, but not Argentina team. Even when they "release" the players, there is a background threat of losing their position.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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