TORONTO — The Toronto Arrows strengthened their support on Tuesday by signing Canadian international half Shane O’Leary for the 2023 Premiership Rugby season.

The 29-year-old O’Leary has spent the last two years with Rouen Normandie in the French second division.

O’Leary is a member of Canada’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and has won 14 caps for Canada since making his international debut against Georgia in June 2017. The Irish-born defender qualified for Canada because of his mother, who is from New Brunswick.

O’Leary’s signing gave Arrows coach Pete Smith some choice among the defenders, with half of incumbent Sam Malcolm also available.

“Shane is a highly skilled Canadian player who can play multiple positions, as he has shown during his professional career in France, Ireland and England,” Arrows COO and GM Mark Winokur said in a statement. “We are delighted that he has signed his first North American contract with us, and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to Canada.”

O’Leary also provides other kick options.

The five-foot-10, 200-pound start with Grenoble academy in France in 2013, went on to sign for Ireland’s Connacht. He spent three seasons there before joining the Ealing Trailfinders and then Nottingham in the British second-tier Championship. He won the league goalscoring title in 2018-19 with Nottingham with 186 points.

“It will be very special for me to come back to Canada to play my rugby,” said O’Leary. “My girlfriend and my mother are both from Canada, and I’ve always felt welcome in Canada. This country has been an integral part of my rugby career — my Canadian roots are deep.

“I have ambitions to get started and use Maple Leaf again, and there’s no better place to make that happen than coming home to Canada.”

Last week the Arrows re-signed defender Lucas Rumball and forward Mason Flesch, who missed most of the 2022 season with a knee injury.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 4, 2022