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It’s an early birthday present: Canadian centre Ciaran Hearn is going to play in England for at least another two seasons.

Hearn, who turns 31 on Friday, and his club, London Irish, announced a two-year contract extension on Thursday. He’ll be with the club through at least the 2018-19 season now, which would carry him right to the door step of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

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The big Newfoundlander first moved to the Irish a year ago, and quickly impressed his new squad, signing on for the 2016-17 season just a few months later.

Hearn starred for Canada at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and was a key man for the national sevens squad for several seasons before that.

“Anytime you get a chance to play in one of the top leagues in the world, you have to take it as a serious offer,” he told The Province last November.

“London Irish is a club with big ambitions and are building for the future which excites me,” Hearn said in a statement released by the club to announce the signing.