Hearn, Parfrey headed to rugby’s premier show
Newfoundlanders named to Canadian roster for 2019 World Cup beginning later this month in Japan
There is no real surprise at their inclusion on the team, but Newfoundlanders Ciaran Hearn and Patrick Hearn will play for Canada in the 2019 Rugby World Cup beginning later this month in Japan.
Both the 33-year-old Hearn, who is from Conception Bay South, and the 27-year-old Parfrey, who is from St. John’s, are veterans of the national senior men’s 15s program. Hearn made his debut with the Canadian senior side in 2008 and has appeared in 69 international matches, more than anyone else on the 31-man World Cup roster. Parfrey earned his first cap in 2013 and has 29 overall.
But while this will be the third World Cup for Hearn, who competed in the 2011 and 2015 events, Parfrey is looking for his first taste of World Cup action. He had been selected to the Canadian replacement pool for the competition in England four years ago but did not play.
Hearn and Parfrey are listed as centres, but are known for their versatility and ability to play multiple positions. In fact, on Tuesday when the Canadian roster was revealed, Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones suggested Hearn could play every spot on the backline in Japan.
Hearn recently finished up a four-year stint with the London Irish in England’s Premier League (he was released by the team in May), while Parfrey is a member of the Swilers club in St. John’s and Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby (MLR), the young North American pro league.
Besides Parfrey, another dozen players on the Canadian team have been playing in the MLR, and Jones is hoping their experience in the new league will be helpful in the upcoming World Cup, the first-ever to be held in Asia.
“It’s in its infancy, I think it gets better each week,” he said
about the MLR circuit.
Jones estimates between the large group on the Arrows and a smattering of others around U.s.-based clubs, there are 45 Canadians playing in the league, players who were in nothing close to a professional environment before.
“It’s huge for us, for our rugby. The Arrows particularly been fantastic, I work closely with them. We have a lot of the squad from the Arrows and a lot
of the long list that will come in if there’s any injuries, et cetera, will come from that group as well. So, it’s been a huge thing.
“I’ll be honest, the MLR has been a significant factor in my decision to commit (to coaching Canada) long term.”
Canada has taken part in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987, but has only advanced past the preliminary round once, when it reached the quarter-finals in
1991. At the last World Cup, Canada was winless in four games.
It won’t be any easier this time around. Canada is part of a tough five-team pool with a schedule that begins with a Sept. 26 match against No. 11 Italy, followed by No 1. seed New Zealand (Oct. 2), No. 5 South Africa (Oct. 8) and No. 23 Namibia (Oct. 13).
The Canadians, ranked 21st in the word and who own a 2-8-0 record in 2019, made it to the 20-country World Cup tourney by winning a play-in/ repechage competition in France 10 months ago. They have a warm-up game against the United States on Saturday at B.C. Place in Vancouver before heading to Japan.