Ed
Fairhurst
With the departure of Gavin Cattle to Llanelli Scarlets at
the end of the 2006-07 season, supporters will have anticipated the likely announcement
of a new scrum-half, Ed bringing with him to Cornwall an impressive 'cv'.
A
product of St. Michael's University in Victoria, since making his international
debut against the USA in 2001, the gifted Canadian has amassed nearly 40 caps
for his country, was selected for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and has
played Sevens for Canada in the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2005 World Cup.
Besides scrum-half, he has also played at fly-half and full-back for Canada.
Ed
joined Cardiff in 2006, making 11 appearances for the 'Blues' and deriving considerable
benefit from being coached by former Wales and British Lions star Rob Howley.
He had the thrill and honour of captaining Canada against the NZ Maoris
in the 2007 Churchill Cup competition played in England, before then going to
France for the Rugby World Cup.
When arriving in Cornwall, Ed was thrown
straight into the 'derby' match at home to Exeter Chiefs.
Making quite an
impression in the very first minute of that game, his enterprise in skilfully
flipping the ball to wing Ali Koko was instrumental in setting up the opening
score for flanker Iva Motusaga.
During the remainder of the season he continued
to show the direction and experience expected from an international player, and
at the end was selected in Canada's 2008 Churchill Cup squad, where he looked
to add to his 41 caps tally.
