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Two Canadian internationals have been named in The Rugby Paper‘s RFU Championship Dream Team for the 2019-20 season. Brett Beukeboom and Shane O’Leary have been selected at lock and flyhalf respectively in a team that features a number of players with top division experience.
Beukeboom recently announced his retirement as a player after eight years in England, five with Cornish Pirates. He captained the club over the past two years and led them to a 3rd-place finish in the pandemic-shortened season. Despite his success at club level, the 29-year-old was overlooked by Canada coach Kingsley Jones for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
While selected in the squad for Japan, O’Leary saw only limited action as a replacement. He has been given the nod by the respected UK publication ahead of other contenders like former England starter Toby Flood, Argentina’s Javier Rojas, and Ealing standout Craig Willis. O’Leary won the Championship scoring title in 2018-19 and will move to French Pro D2 club Rouen next season.
Other notables include two former Super Rugby flankers – Jordy Reid and John Hardie – and former Bath scrumhalf Will Homer. Four members of the Premiership-bound Newcastle Falcons are named with second row Sean Robinson, center George Wacokecoke, and winger Adam Radwan joining Hardie.
RUGBY PAPER RFU CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM TEAM
1 Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights), 2 Alun Walker (Ealing Trailfinders), 3 Alec Clarey (Jersey Reds), 4 Brett Beukeboom (Cornish Pirates), 5 Sean Robinson (Newcastle Falcons), 6 Jordy Reid (Ealing Trailfinders), 7 John Hardie (Newcastle Falcons), 8 Ryan Burrows (Coventry), 9 Will Homer (Jersey Reds), 10 Shane O’Leary (Nottingham), 11 Jack Spittle (Nottingham), 12 Calum Patterson (Cornish Pirates), 13 George Wacokecoke (Newcastle Falcons), 14 Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons), 15 Kyle Moyle (Cornish Pirates)
