It’s been a long time since Adam Kleeberger has suited up for Canada on the rugby pitch.
Too long, if you ask him.
For much of the last 12 months, the 29-year-old South Surrey native has been sidelined due to injury – first, while playing overseas for London Scottish FC, he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery, and then he had back issues that kept him off the pitch.
But this Sunday in Toronto, Kleeberger will put all that behind him when he suits up for Canada against the New Zealand Maori All Blacks, who are not that country’s official national team, but a juggernaut program nonetheless.
“It’s been a long time, but I’m ready – I’ve had no issues (with his injuries),” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s an opportunity for us to play against good competition. We’re building toward the next World Cup.”
The game will serve as something of a warmup for Canada’s senior men’s team, which has a busy November ahead of it. After Sunday, the team plays four games, in four different countries, in a 21-day span.
Sunday’s game hits the field at 10 a.m.