Ospreys Sign Canadian Flanker

Acording to tthe ospreys website, the ospreys have completed the signing of canadian openside chauncey o'toole. Personally i belive this is a very good signing as the ospreys have captured a young, talented (named churchill cup 'man of the series') and undoubtedly cheap buy in order to raise some competition for Tipuric. Im sure this forum will moan on about twelsh players not been given the opportunity but if you think about it behind Tipuric there is not a openside flanker putting his hand up at premiership or age grade level for the ospreys. Your thoughts?

This rumour was mentioned a while back and most people didn't believe it. I don't know a lot about him but we do need a back up for JT2, and it's not as if were going to sign anyone expensive.

You might believe it's a good signing personally but actually, it isn't.

nottins_jones wrote:You might believe it's a good signing personally but actually, it isn't.

Well I've heard nothing positive about him to be honest and from what I gather it's a bit of a shot in the dark signing.
I must state I can't substantiate any of what I post next, I'm simply repeating what Iv'e read off Canadian posters off other forums.
Apparently he agreed to go to RTG1404 but failed to appear, then turned up on a short term contract at Glasgow without telling anyone, though was released from there quickly due to very poor performances and a bad attitude.

Prior to that he signed for Canadian club Jimmy Bay Athetic but was dropped after 4 awful performances by Gareth Rees, then kicked out. He played for 4 other Premier league sides in quick succession before going to Glasgow. After Glasgow he went back to Canada and moved to 3 other clubs after being unable to settle.

Apparently he even asked the Canada coach to be subbed in a game against the Jaguars because he felt he was the only one playing well!
He is known to be arrogant and selfish.

Again these are a Canadian fans words and someone who may have an axe to grind, and I won't judge someone until I can form my own view point, he's signed until the end of the season so hopefully what I've read about him is wrong.
But the last thing the Ospreys need is another disruptive player.
Though if he couldn't cut it at Glasgow, I don't think he will at the Ospreys.

O'toole was on loan at Glasgow this season, and he was useless.

Seems a VERY odd signing for the Ospreys if what is said above is true.

An poor player with a poor attitude

Its not like the Ospreys are known for there ability to manage big egos...

I'm surprised to see him back in this part of the world. He was very poor for Glasgow and was sent back to Canada. I thought he'd blown his chance of playing in Europe. Really wasn't great.

Can that really be true that in the "Ospreylia" Premiership sides there isn't a player of note to step up? Four premiership sides at least to choose from.

Considering the Ospreys have signed Stowers and Bearman, I don't think it's that worthwhile a signing, especially considering Tipuric, Smith and JT probably aren't World Cup bound. But despite that, as I said I'd be surprised if there isn't one or more backrower in the four teams they can't pick.

Yes Rev, but O'Toole is an important player for Canada. I'm sure he will be missing during the RWC.

Notch wrote:Yes Rev, but O'Toole is an important player for Canada. I'm sure he will be missing during the RWC.

Didn't even consider that. Makes it even more of a pointless signing then, especially given the other two signings.

More non Welsh signings by the Ospreys - how many is that now this summer.

What is the Ospreys backrow going to look like next season? How do you think it will compare to other sides in the ML and other clubs in Europe?

Are you happy with this signing?

I haven't seen or heard anything about this guy, so it'll have to be a wait and see job.

However, probably not there for the world cup, ridiculous.
We must have younger back rowers coming through, even the likes of Lewis (Sam) and Kiley, and that's just at Swansea.

Not sure where this decision has come from but it does sound awful!!

theres plenty of talented youngsters in wales, why oh why do they do this?
how the hell are wales gonna get better in years to come with these kids sitting on benches elsewhere?

please people lets not panic, signing a canadian is not the reason for a welsh rugby apocalypse. the ospreys clearly belive that the flankers behind tipuric are not good or old enough for regional experience so they sign a quality player on a short term basis to fill that gap. this guy will bring a high standard to the ospreys, rather than having a welsh prem flanker who isnt good enough. O'toole will provide the healthy competition needed for tipuric to become wales and british lion number openside. we dont want welsh players having a free run at a shirt! this can only be good for welsh rugby

matfield, I can now cleary see that you haven't done any research on this guy nor bothered to read the comments from people who have/have seen him play.

trapsurfer wrote:theres plenty of talented youngsters in wales, why oh why do they do this?
how the hell are wales gonna get better in years to come with these kids sitting on benches elsewhere?

Tipuric IS the young Welsh player, he was a academy player at the start of last season and 4th choice open side, however...

Marty Holah has joined Waikato
Ben Lewis got injured and was forced to retire
and Steve Tandy, has become head coach at Bridgend.

So the Ospreys gave an academy player a chance, and it's to Tipuric's credit that not only did he grasp the chance and nail down the Ospreys 7 shirt, but he made it to the Wales squad also!

Need to agree that O'Toole was a total tool at the Warriors !

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Need to agree that O'Toole was a total tool at the Warriors !

He looks a dirty player to be honest, I watched the Canada V USA game the other day and he got yellow carded for silly play, then dropped and elbow on a players head right in front of the referee and almost got sent off. Him and Ian Evans should get on famously!

beshocked wrote:What is the Ospreys backrow going to look like next season? How do you think it will compare to other sides in the ML and other clubs in Europe?

Are you happy with this signing?

bearman/jt/ryan
stowers
tupric

not the best not the worst

Any young lads coming through this season ?

King seems the most likelty to break through, apparently no good young open sides or hookers in the semi pro set up at the minute

JB1973 how do you think it compares to other sides?

Also I am becoming more interested in the Ospreys so I am armed with knowledge before our encounter in the HC.

I am wondering whether I should be confident of victory or wary when we play the O's in the HC. Will the galactico's image be replaced with talented youngsters working hard?

Could someone tell me a little about your squad and your realistic chances/aspirations in the Rabo and HC?

Shouldnt that be Swansea,Alyn?

beshocked wrote:JB1973 how do you think it compares to other sides?

Also I am becoming more interested in the Ospreys so I am armed with knowledge before our encounter in the HC.

I am wondering whether I should be confident of victory or wary when we play the O's in the HC. Will the galactico's image be replaced with talented youngsters working hard?

Could someone tell me a little about your squad and your realistic chances/aspirations in the Rabo and HC?

we will be a tough prospect at home in the hc for anyone we haven't lost at home in 5 years in the cup. The front 5 is v strong and one of the best scrummaging outfits in europe.

The back row is basically totally new, bearman will imo be the 8 and will carry the ball along with stowers at 6, tupric is a fast open side with good fotballing skills who will compete at the breakdown.

The backs on paper look a lot weaker no byrne hook phillips and who knows when walker will be back but there is some bright young talent there and bowe and shane are still top class finishers

I expect the sarries to win at wembley and the os to win at the liberty.

two tough gamea ahead imo

From what i saw of him, I have to agree with the Scottish posters and say that he was absolute mince and a waste of space at Glasgow

No offense,but if even Glagow did not want him what the hell are the Ospreys about????

Taff, that's one way of looking at it, I suppose!

Taffineastbourne wrote:No offense,but if even Glagow did not want him what the hell are the Ospreys about????

not sure, the guy supposedly had a storming churchill cup. Not a signing i'm exiciting about but have to wait and see how he goes

Still annoyed at this signing tbh.

jb, any news on recruiting a 10/12? Now that McCalister and Donald have already been snapped up that doesn't leave Ospreys with many options. Kahn has looked good for Crusaders and Samoa (as has Stowers).

no 10 biggar with morgan as back up and next year young sam davies to push em both.

centre is still on the cards but not untill after the world cup as far as I know

He was at Glasgow on loan in the early part of last season. He was only ever there as cover as we had so many backrow injuries. Only featured in one game, Dragons away I think. He would have featured in a couple of the earlier game but missed out due to Visa issues.

A bit harsh for people on here to have formed an opinion of him based on that one apperance.

Granted I don't know what his attitude was like off the park.

He played very well in the Churchill Cup for Canada, but its difficult at times to judge performances at these A team tournaments. I have seen many young Scottish players look good at these tournaments only for them to fail to make the grade at Pro Level.

Dottu - have you been divorced recently? I seem to remember you used the title "Mrs" before.