Canada flanker Chauncey O'Toole joins Glasgow Warriors

O'Toole has recently spent time developing his skills in Wales

Glasgow Warriors have signed Canada international Chauncey O'Toole on a short-term contract after he impressed during a brief trial in pre-season.

The 24-year-old flanker has signed until the end of October.

O'Toole played with Atlantic Rock in Canada but recently spent time with RGC 1404, a Canada-Wales rugby initiative.

He said: "I'm really excited to be here. It's a great opportunity for me to get what is my first professional contract with a club like Glasgow."

O'Toole is believed to be the first professional rugby player to be produced by Canada's New Brunswick Rugby Union.

He played rugby as a schoolboy but only returned to the sport after a spell in professional ice hockey in Canada, playing for the Miramichi Timberwolves in the Maritime Junior A hockey league.

I'm expecting big things from him over the next couple of months Glasgow Warriors coach Sean Lineen

The 24-year-old has won six caps for Canada since his Test debut against Ireland in 2009 and took part in the Churchill Cup over the summer, when he was named man of the match in Canada's 48-6 victory over Uruguay, and then scored a try in the final against England Saxons.

He has also represented Canada on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit.

"My ambition is to make the most of this opportunity and to try and earn a spot in the line-up as often as possible," said O'Toole.

"Canada have their November tour coming up, which is in Europe this year, so I hope to be a part of that."

Glasgow head coach Sean Lineen explained how his latest player had been recruited.

"This really came about through DTH van der Merwe, who was playing for Canada through the summer," he said.

"He looked at the fact that we didn't have our full contingent of back-row players and he said that this lad had been outstanding in the Churchill Cup and needed game time.

"So we got him across and I liked what I saw. I'm expecting big things from him over the next couple of months."

O'Toole joins two other Canada internationals at the Warriors, Kevin Tkachuk and Van der Merwe, boosting Glasgow's international quota of players to 17.