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May 11, 2001 |
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Courtesy of:
RugbyRugby.com |
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by Pat
McLoughlin |
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 According
to media reports in England, Canada international tighthead prop Jon Thiel
is the fifth international to have been snapped up by big spending
Bridgend for the new 2001/2002 season.
 Thiel
(pictured) only moved to Zurich Premiership side Sale Sharks from French
side Narbonne in the close season last year, and has had a difficult
second professional season in the north west of England.
Thiel made just 12 appearances for his club
side but did enough to impress Bath coach Jon Callard whose team are in
the hunt for a quality tighthead and Welsh club Bridgend.
Canada and coach David Clark had a few harsh words to say to the Cheshire
club Sale, when they refused to release the 19 times capped prop for a
Test against Italy last November.
Thiel follows four Wales internationals, Dafydd James, Nathan Budgett,
Gareth Thomas and Deiniol Jones to the Brewery Field as the Ravens prepare
to improve on a fifth place Welsh/Scottish finish this season and
qualification for next season's Heineken European Cup.
Apparently according to Bath boss Callard, Thiel was keen to join the west
country club but their delay caused the Canadian to accept another offer
already on the table from ambitious Bridgend.
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