The first article deals principally with Gareth Rees, the second with Rod Snow and another Canadian player, John Tait, at Cardiff.
"WE'LL KEEP A WELCOME"
"BY CHRIS JONES London Evening Standard"
"Gareth Rees, as his name implies, has a strong connection with Wales. His father was born in Llantrisant, his grandfather lived and died in Cardiff and as a young lad he was brought up listening to the tales of the exiled Welsh mafia who visited his Canadian home."
"Rees returns to Cardiff today, not as a player with the goal kicking skill to break Welsh hearts as he did in 1993, but as the new Chief Executive Officer of Rugby Canada. It has been a hugely significant appointment for Rees and a Canadian rugby system that has seen too many years of in-fighting and too little of the playing success that made the Canuks the surprise package of the 1991 Rugby World Cup."
"At the heart of that Canadian team, which eventually lost in a rain-soaked quarter-final to New Zealand in Lille, was Rees. He is the only man to have played in all four World Cups and he will be there in Australia next year to register his fifth appearance, although it will be as a member of the team management rather man as captain."
"Sure, I would love to play in another one, but four's not bad!" said Rees, who Welsh fans will remember as Newport's leading points scorer during his spell ,at Rodney Parade."
"I thought twice about taking my new job because it was a big decision. I have tremendous support from Graham Brown, the chief operating officer, and he has come from ice hockey here in Canada while I have spent the last ten years, playing rugby in the UK."
"We face some huge challenges but there are also huge opportunities. The lessons I have learnt from playing abroad means I can use that experience to take the game forward. Getting a tri-nations annual tournament with England and the US is a big step forward for us because we just haven't had regular competition, except against the Eagles."
"There will be referee, youth and coaching clinics running alongside the tournament and that will be a big boost for our rugby. I get nervous at this time because the World Cup is only a year away and having played in four of them, you want to do everything you can to ensure the squad is in the best possible shape for Australia."
"Canada have struggled to match the highpoints that Rees and his prolific boot registered on the world stage and that 26-24 win over Wales at the old National Ground was hugely significant for one of the lesser rugby nations. Rees has seen a video of the final conversion of the match he managed to get over and he was embarrassed to see himself mouthing "Dad, Dad" as he raised his arms in triumph."
"His father, Alan, who has held almost every post in the Canadian rugby system, was watching from the stands that day, one that also brings back sad memories for Rees. His grandfather was seriously ill in a Cardiff hospital at that time and subsequendy died."
"My grandfather, Dan, would have loved the fact that I had come back and put one over on Wales with that kick."
"I had missed a similar penalty ten minutes earlier and I had topped it. All I remember is going through the mental preparation and saying 'don't miss it like the last one' and then I chipped it over without a follow through."
"On my lips you can see I am yelling 'Dad, Dad' which is the corniest thing ever! I didn't realise I had done that at the time. My father was in the stand and I had grown up hearing Max Boyce songs and about the Gareth Edwards try in 1973 and to go to Cardiff and win with Canada was a completion of sorts . We proved ourselves against Wales."
"I understood the Welsh psyche through my Dad and in Victoria, where I grew up, there was a Welsh mafia of school teachers who had come over to work and they all got involved in rugby. My father, who grew up in Barry and played football for Cardiff City, was also a teacher and it was pretty neat."
"My uncle lives in Resolven and I see my cousins as often as I can."
"Wales will play a key role in getting the Canadian squad up to speed for the World Cup thanks to the home this country has given to players from across the North Atlantic. Word of mouth spread amongst those Canadian players who are plying their rugby trade abroad and the Welsh game has become a preferred choice."
"Rees made the move to Newport during a career that also included London Wasps and Harlequins and understands why so many of his top players are in Wales. He explained; "Rod Snow came to Newport because I was already at the club and Dan Baugh joined Cardiff to be in the same squad as John Tait and we have seen that at a number of clubs in Wales."
"We all had good experiences there and told the others about our time and Wales has always supported Canada. Wales have made tours and been ready to help out. I also think that Wales has benefited from being able to tap into a rugby resource of good quality players with an excellent work ethic."
"What we lack in experience we make up for with heart and commitment and, in the professional game, that's more valuable because you can learn the rest. If you are willing to die for the cause, be it for your country or your club, then that's a pretty good starting point!"
"It takes a big commitment from the Canadian players because they don't have their families around and they rely, very often, on their wives or girlfriends who have to be just as committed to the idea of living abroad. People forget about how important this is. Our top players have to leave home to show everyone what they really can do in all kinds of sports."
"I loved my time with Newport but they were at a low ebb when I joined. I went back recently and the club has come on tremendously well in every way. They were in transition during my time at the club - fighting to stay alive in the mud at Aberavon. I was at Oxford University at the time and it was a real contrast."
"Being a 'transplanted' Welshman, it was great to see a community getting behind their rugby club."
"Just like the crowd will acknowledge the adopted "Welsh-Canadians" on duty today."