Wolfpack alum Ngawati in demand with national rugby teams

Canada’s gain is also Canada’s loss when it comes to Quinn Ngawati.

The 19-year-old from Victoria, the first Canadian-born player to appear in a professional rugby league game, is now training with the Canadian rugby sevens team. To do so, he turned down an offer to play for the Canada Wolverines in their bid to qualify for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Wolverines coach Ben Fleming called Ngawati’s loss a big blow but wished him well.

“He’s a great player and we would welcome him back,” he said.

The six-foot-four 240-pound Ngawati left the Toronto Wolfpack, a transatlantic rugby league team, in mid-October to continue his rugby career and pursue a career in aviation. He has been on Canada sevens coach Damian McGrath’s radar for some time.

Rugby league is the 13-player version of rugby. Rugby union, the more popular version around the globe, offers 15- and sevenplayer versions of the game.

The Canadian sevens team, back training after a labour dispute, is gearing up for the opening of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai on Nov.

30. McGrath, who is dealing with injuries to Harry Jones, Phil Berna and Mike Fuailefau, says Ngawati could figure in Dubai but is more likely to get see action in December-January with the developmental Maple Leafs squad.

Ngawati has played rugby union for Canada at age-grade level.