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Jake Ilnicki has always been a travellin’ man.

Aspiring Canadians could learn from the “have boots will travel” ethos of the 24-year-old prop from Williams Lake. He’s won 15 caps since making his debut in 2013 — including starting all three tests this past June, vs. Japan, Russian and Italy — and his willingness to try rugby in many corners of the globe is part of his success.

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His latest turn: he’s signed on with the Manawatu Turbos in New Zealand, for the upcoming Mitre 10 Cup season (this is the former ITM Cup/NPC).

“There was nothing laid out in front of me to return to Australia after PRO Rugby finished,” he said in a message from New Zealand. (He flew down last week.) “So when the opportunity came up to play in NZ professionally I jumped on it.”

It’s his third stint in New Zealand, but his first time as a professional. He previously played for the College Rifles club in Auckland as a 19 year old. In 2010, the Auckland club was on tour in B.C. and played against Ilnicki’s home town club, the Williams Lake Rustlers. The Kiwi squad had some injury problems and invited him to finish the tour with them. A year later, he travelled down for a season.