It’s the biggest stage in rugby, and it only comes around every four years. The Rugby World Cup in now underway in England.
The Canadian men, ranked 18th in the world, will open the tournament Saturday against sixth-ranked Ireland, in front of over 70,000 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Four years ago, the only Alberta connection on Team Canada was Ryan Smith, a Calgary native, and veteran of three World Cups.
This year will be different. This squad has plenty of Alberta blood.
Five players from the wild rose province were named to the 23-man starting side, including three from the Calgary area.
Okotoks Native, Jeff Hassler, and Calgary products Gordon McRorie and Nick Blevins will all make their World Cup debuts on Saturday.
“Everyone in the province is super proud of all the players here,” said Rugby Alberta Technical Director Graeme Moffat.
Hassler, a starting wing for Canada, has played the last two seasons professionally for one of the top clubs in Wales, the Ospreys.
A far cry from where he was just five years ago. After graduating from Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks, the 24-year-old played two seasons of CIS football in Saskatoon for the Saskatchewan Huskies. In 2010, he committed to rugby full-time.
“To be honest, I didn’t even think about (playing professionally). Coming from Okotoks, a small town, rugby was just kind of up and coming, said Hassler. “To kind of look back and see where I started, to where I am now, is pretty humbling and it’s a pretty cool thing”
All three local products hope to play a prominent role for team Canada, as they look to beat Ireland for the first time ever.
“Jeff has been outstanding for the Ospresys the last two seasons and Nick has pushed in to the squad by working his butt off physically and on his skills,” said Moffat. “Gordy’s kicking game is one of his biggest strengths and he will be the front line kicker on Saturday.”
Moffat is another Calgary connection in Wales, he’s with the National team as skills coach.
“I am loving every minute of it so far,” he said I had a goal to get to the 2019 World Cup as a coach but to get here now is amazing. It’s a great environment, strong culture and the players are working hard. I’m excited to see our players go against some of the top teams in the world.”
The Scotland-born Moffat is also the Head Coach of the Prairie Wolf Pack, a Calgary based club that plays in the Canadian Rugby Championship, the highest level of domestic competition in Canada. Eight players from that 2015 champion squad will wear the red and white.
Moffat is also in constant contact back home; his partner Tara Eckert is pregnant and their second child is due in three weeks.
“Thankfully I have an understanding partner, said Moffat. “Tara played in the women’s 7s World Cup in Dubai so understands what it’s like to be involved in a big tournament.”
This is Canada’s eighth appearance in a Rugby World Cup, including 2011 when the group, led by the self proclaimed “Canadian Beardos” (Adam Kleeberger, Jebb Sinclair and Hubert Buydens) – a trio of players who sported mountain men beards – captured the attention of the entire country with their scrappy style and underdog status.
They will be the underdogs again in 2015. Drawn into Group D, with No. 7 France, No. 14 Italy, No. 17 Romania, and the Irish.
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