Rugby Canada adds Welsh assistant coach for November test matches

New Canadian rugby coach Kingsley Jones has added Wales under20 coach Jason Strange to his staff for Canada's November test matches. Canada, ranked 24th in the world, is due to host the Maori All Blacks in Vancouver on Nov. 3 before heading to Europe for matches with No. 12 Georgia, No. 19 Spain and No. 9 Fiji.

The Canadian men are gearing up for a World Cup qualifying series against No. 18 Uruguay in January.

Strange will return to his Welsh duties after the November tour.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me to coach at senior international level against some quality opposition,'' Strange said in a statement.

“I'm extremely grateful to the (Welsh Rugby Union) and Canada for allowing me to take it up. I feel it's something that will offer me some new insights and allow to me return a better coach. At the same time, I'll be able to offer Canada a new voice and a different perspective on certain things.''

The move strengthens the ties between both governing bodies, who have collaborated on several projects in the past and exchanged talent.

Jones is a former Wales captain who worked for the Welsh Rugby Union, tasked with identifying and recruiting talent to the pro game in Wales. Geraint John, Wales' current head of rugby performance, used to coach the Canadian men's sevens side and was high performance manager at Rugby Canada.