These are exciting times for Patrick Parfrey Jr. of St. John’s, whose getting his first taste of Major League Rugby pro experience and vying for a spot on the Canadian team that will be competing in the 2019 World Cup of Rugby in Japan.
Did we mention Parfrey is also on the backstretch to completing his PhD?
Parfrey was in the Toronto Arrows’ lineup Sunday for their 29-7 win over the defending MLR champion Seattle Seawolves. It was Parfrey’s first official game with the Arrows after appearing in a couple of matches last season.
The Arrows, Canada’s first pro rugby union team, played a limited exhibition schedule last season as it prepared for full-time play this year.
Parfrey made a couple of appearances in the Arrows’ lineup last season.
He actually signed on for the 2019 campaign a couple of weeks ago, but only found his way into the lineup Sunday following 11 Toronto (6-5) games.
The nine-team circuit started the end of January, but national team commitments prevented Parfrey from playing the first eight weeks.
“This is a very exciting year,” said Parfrey from Toronto. “There’s the Arrows opportunity, which offers Canadian rugby players a chance to play at a high level.
“And then there’s the World Cup. It will be tough to make the roster, but if I proceed well, I think I have a shot.”
The 2019 Rugby World Cup begins in September in Japan. The national 15s squad will play three games against the U.S. and a pair of matches against Fiji in July before the final roster is pared down.
Parfrey, a 28-year-old flyhalf/fullback/centre, has 27 international caps for Canada in 15s and 7s play.
He began playing for Canada internationally in 7s and 15s in 2013.
Ciaran Hearn of C.B.S., another Newfoundland rugby pro playing for London Irish, is also vying for a berth in the team. Hearn has played for Canada in a couple of World Cups.
Parfrey was part of the Canadian team at the 2015 World Cup in England Wales.
He actually joined Canada half-way through the event to replace an injured Connor Braid. Parfrey was playing for Swilers in a Goodyear Cup senior game in St. John’s when the call came, summoning him to England.
His busy pending schedule might not make him available for the Atlantic Rock this summer.
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