Canada’s Wolverines start World Cup qualifying bid in Florida against Jamaica
By a quirk of fate, Ryerson student Emil Borggren fell in love with rugby league on a visit to his native Denmark.
The 23-year-old Borggren, who has a Canadian father and Danish mother, was born in Denmark but came to Canada with his family when he was six.
Borggren played rugby union for the Toronto Nomads, Ontario Junior Blues and the University of Western Ontario, but suffered some injury setbacks. He found a new sport in Scandinavia by accident.
“I got introduced to (rugby) league by a bunch of Aussies and Brits over there and was playing a lot,” said Borggren, who can play centre, wing, halfback or hooker.
That led to a chance to play for Denmark, ranked 35th in the world by the Rugby League International Federation. He subsequently took part in the Toronto Wolfpack trials and spent time in England training with the transatlantic rugby league team prior to its inaugural 2017 season.
“It really helped me progress my game a lot,” he said.
“I found a sport that I didn’t think I could love more,” he added.
“I thought (rugby) union was the sport for me, that’s what I would be playing forever. I was introduced to league and after the whole experience of just getting that kind of exposure, that really cemented rugby league for me.
“I don’t think there’s any coming back to union for me ever again.”
While he didn’t stick with the Wolfpack, he continued playing rugby league — the 13-man version of the sport — and transferred his international allegiance to Canada.
Today the five-foot-nine 185pounder, who plays club rugby
league for Toronto City Saints, is a member of the Canadian national team known as the Wolverines.
Now, Borggren and his Canadian teammates are looking to take a step forward on the world stage.
As Canada’s rugby union team takes part in a last-chance 2019 World Cup qualifier in France, the Canadian Wolverines open their bid to make the 2021 Rugby League World Cup on Tuesday in Florida.
While the Canada Ravens played at the 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup, the men have yet to qualify.
The Wolverines face Jamaica at the Americas Qualifying Tournament in Jacksonville.
The winner faces either the U.S. or Chile to see who qualifies. The tournament runner-up drops into a 2019 repechage.
“This is a good as it gets,” said Borggren, who trains six days a week.
“I’m just excited to be playing that calibre, that level of rugby. I love testing myself and I love seeing what the bar is.”
The U.S. is currently ranked 14th in the world, ahead of No. 15 Jamaica, No. 16 Canada and No. 33 Chile.
Canada is 1-1-1 in recent years against Jamaica, which has also drawn on foreign players — mostly English — with the requisite bloodlines.
Canada coach Ben Fleming, an Australian native who played for the Wolverines himself, has drawn players from around the globe with talent coming in from Canada, Australia, England and New Zealand.
Still he’s missing some five players, including Victoria’s Quinn Ngawati.
The first Canadian-born player to play professional rugby league, the 19-year-old Ngawati has left the Toronto Wolfpack and is currently training with the Canadian rugby sevens squad.
Others unavailable to play include Riley Jacks (Gold Coast Titans) and Jaeman Salmon (Parramatta Eels), who both have experience in Australia’s elite NRL.
“That’s sport,” said Fleming, who was named head coach in early 2017. “You roll with it.”
Fleming likes the talent he has, but knows the team has to jell.
“Although we have a strong side, some of these guys have never played together let alone met each other,” he said.
The Wolverines roster features Rhys Jacks, Riley’s brother who played for the Toronto Wolfpack in 2017. Australian-born and -bred, Jacks qualifies to represent Canada because his grandfather was born in Toronto.
Others playing overseas include Ash Calvert (Berowra Wallabies, Australia), Brad Austen (Halswell Hornets, New Zealand), Louis Robinson (London Skolars, England); Wes Black, Joel Hulett (Ourimbah Magpies, Australia); Jordan Drew (Townsville Blackhawks, Australia) and Ruairi McGoff (Ulverston RL, England).
Most qualify by bloodlines but Black and Hulett are Canadians who went Down Under to hone their rugby league skills.