TORONTO — The Rugby World Cup has brought back plenty of memories for Mike Sheppard. Like playing the All Blacks at the 2019 tournament in Japan. Only a select few Canadians get to face the haka. Sheppard had to wait for his chance.
TORONTO — The Rugby World Cup has brought back plenty of memories for Mike Sheppard. Like playing the All Blacks at the 2019 tournament in Japan.Sheppard had to wait for his chance. He was just weeks from his 30th birthday when he made his international debut. Some 10 1/2 months later, he was on the field at Oita Stadium watching New Zealand's traditional pre-game challenge.
Six days later Sheppard came on in the 56th minute of the 66-7 loss to South Africa, exiting 19 minutes later for a head injury assessment after taking a shot to the head. He scored a try that day and helped Canada qualify for Japan 2019 by going 3-0-0 at the repechage tournament.Sheppard who took up the sport at 13 because Bramalea Secondary School did not have a football team, said he had been thinking about his life after rugby for the last two years.
Known simply as Shep to most, Sheppard put his body on the line regularly for both the Arrows and Canada. LeSage was also part of the 2019 Canada World Cup team and took pleasure in sharing the experience with Sheppard, given his age and years of toiling on the Canadian club circuit.Sheppard got to share his decision to retire with Bill Webb before the Arrows president and co-founder died of prostate cancer at the age of 59.
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