Young Canadian On Trial For Llanelli
Cardiff forwards John Tait and Dan Baugh have inadvertently given a fellow Canadian a chance of Welsh club rugby this season.
When Tait was married last week and Baugh attended the ceremony, it gave Jamie Cudmore from the Capilano club of British Columbia a chance to play in the Canada squad against the USA Eagles.
Cudmore’s test baptism has led to Llanelli offering him a trial, mostly because an Eagle – Luke Gross – is going to miss the opening weeks of the new season with an injury sustained against the Cannucks.
Cudmore, aged 23 and standing 6’4″, is a relative newcomer to rugby, having only begun at 17 and being more noted as a downhill and slalom skier.
He will join up with the Scarlets in Slovenia and then travel back to play four World Cup matches for Canada in August – home and away to Uruguay and Chile.
The British Columbian began the year with Young Canada in Germany and was hustled into the senior tour of Australia that followed. He then impressed as Canada West almost toppled the touring Scotland side.
“As far as I know, I am going over on a trial basis. I don’t know what they are looking for,” said Cudmore, who is
rapidly becoming a world traveller.