Canada rugby coach facing challenges against professional opposition
The challenges of coaching Canada’s men’s rugby team are myriad, on and off the field.
While Tier 1 nations like England have a structure in place that allows them to assemble their top talent for February test matches during the international window, Canadian coach Mark Anscombe is forced to do a delicate dance in choosing his overseas players.
In selecting his squad for the Americas Rugby Championship, the New Zealand native has essentially elected not to summon players from top European leagues to avoid disrupting their club careers.
“We haven’t brought them all back. It’s a balancing act of making sure we’re competitive but looking where players are coming from,” said Anscombe.