Tyler Ardron will be Canada’s next Super Rugby player. His current club Ospreys confirmed his departure on Monday after failing to re-sign the World Cup captain. Multiple sources have now informed Americas Rugby News that Ardron will be joining the Chiefs in New Zealand for the 2018 Super Rugby season, in doing so turning down overtures from other prominent European clubs.

Based in Hamilton, New Zealand, the Chiefs are one of New Zealand’s top professional teams having won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013 and reaching the playoffs in every season since. They are currently tied with the Lions, from South Africa, for second highest points in the competition, trailing only the Crusaders, another New Zealand franchise.

Ardron is set to replace Michael Leitch in the team, with the Japan captain keen to play for the Sunwolves. Among a host of talent currently at the Chiefs are New Zealand All Blacks Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, and Anton Lienert-Brown. Halfback duo Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Cruden will be making high-profile moves to France next season, while loose forward Liam Messam is also expected to depart.

A versatile player capable of covering second or back row, it’s as a loose forward where Ardron is most comfortable and likely to play for the Chiefs. His combination of size, strength, and athletic ability has earned him 22 international caps since making his debut one week shy of his 21st birthday in 2012. The Peterborough, Ontario, native joined Ospreys in 2013 and has since been a regular in the side but saw his playing time for both club and country limited in 2015 and 2016 due to injury. Now fully fit, he is expected to lead Canada in the upcoming Rugby World Cup Qualifiers against the US Eagles.

Previous Canadian internationals who have played Super Rugby include current squad member Jebb Sinclair, who spent three months with the Stormers in 2012 while on loan from London Irish. Two-time World Cup midfielder Christian Stewart, who also won three caps for the Springboks in 1998, was a long-time member of Western Province and subsequently joined the Stormers when South Africa switched to a franchise system for Super Rugby in 1998.