Canada and the USA will join forces on the Rugby League field once again, with the CanAm Grizzlies set to take part in the International Rugby League Nines at Cabramatta Leagues Club this Saturday in Sydney, Australia.

The 10th and 12th World Ranked sides will join together in a the annual nine-a-side competition for the first time, after the side played its inaugural match in 2016, defeating the Latin Heat in the Liberty Cup.

The side has been drawn in pool G and is set to face Malta, Samoa NSW and Ozzy Cooks, with the tournament in Cabramatta featuring 27 sides representing countries from across the globe as well as domestic sides from throughout Australia.

Several of the Grizzlies will return from their last clash in October 2016, with Danny Howard, Kevin Reed Jr, Ricky Jones and David Marando featuring once again, as well as coach Aaron Zimmerle who is also set to make his debut on the field for the side.

Ricky Jones is a USA heritage representative who found the establishment of the Grizzlies and the Liberty Cup clash to be a valuable concept and is looking forward to wearing the Grizzlies jersey once again in the nines format.

“The Liberty Cup was a great opportunity playing alongside a bunch of great blokes representing Canada and the US, as well as having a great coach, Aaron Zimmerle.”

“I’m looking forward to representing USA and Canada in the upcoming tournament this weekend.” Jones said.

The Nines will also be the first hit-out on Australian soil for the Canadian pair of Steven Adu and Barak Pauls, who have left the Canadian Rugby League competition to join Australian teams for the 2017 season.

They will have the perfect opportunity to showcase their talents, particularly in front of the Grizzlies and Canada Wolverines Head Coach, Aaron Zimmerle, who is excited and ambitious ahead of the tournament.

“After the inaugural CanAm match, we are very excited to unite once again and show the rest of the world the strength of North American Rugby League.”

“Nines is an expansive game, well suited to the athleticism of the Grizzlies’ players and we will be striving to claim a piece of silverware,” Zimmerle stated.

The team is set to play its first match of the tournament at 11:15am against the Ozzy Cooks on field one.

Tickets are $5 and entry for children is free.

 

Team:

Steven Adu, Justin Fish, Danny Howard, Ricky Jones, Peter Lee, David Marando, Sean McInroy, Jope Moala, Tikiko Noke, Barak Pauls, Kevin Reed Jr, Tyrone Shelley, Mitch Stanfield, Taylor Welch, Aaron Zimmerle.

Coach:
Aaron Zimmerle

Story by By Julian Clarkstone