Andy Tiedemann will audition for a starting role at the 2011 World Cup of Rugby during Canada's four-match tour of Europe.
The 22-year-old St. Albert rugby product is the youngest forward on the travelling squad and one of five props named to the Canadian line-up that will ruck and maul this month against Belgium, Spain, Georgia and Portugal.
"Obviously it's pretty exciting. I've got a chance to try and secure a spot for the World Cup that is coming up. I've just got to stay injury free and do my stuff," Tiedemann told the Gazette Saturday while pumping iron at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club (SARFC).
The two-time Churchill Cup competitor is a leading candidate to make the national team for the Sept. 9 to Oct. 23 worlds in New Zealand. Canada is grouped in pool A with New Zealand, France, Tonga and Japan.
"I'm fairly confident. I don't want to count my eggs before they're hatched but I'm definitely gunning for a World Cup spot," said Tiedemann, who made a quick visit to his hometown last weekend before hooking up with the Canadian delegation en route to Brussels to play Belgium on Saturday.
He expects the coaching staff for worlds will select two loosehead props, two tighthead props and two hookers, of which one will have propping experience.
"I think I'm one of the tightheads and I will have to compete with one other guy for the starting spot," said the fourth-year player with the University of Victoria Vikes, the 2010 Rounsefell Cup champions of British Columbia.
Tiedemann's goal in Europe is to make a name for himself.
"I want to scrummage well and try and be a little menace around the field."
Over the summer Tiedemann bulked up for more power in the scrums. At six feet with shoulders as big as beer kegs, the imposing figure pegged his weight at between 265 and 270 pounds.
"I think that's going to help me in the long run. Physically-wise, this is definitely the best I've ever felt," he said. "International props range between 245 to 270 [pounds] but you have to be able to carry that weight well around the park too. Ultimately I would like to hover somewhere in between there to be an effective scrummager, which I think Canada has not been the best at and I would like to try and change that."
At the Churchill Cup this year Canada finished 2-1 with Tiedemann in the starting 15. Canada crushed Uruguay 48-6 and upset France A 33-27 in Colorado. In the final Canada lost 38-18 to the England Saxons (English B-side) in New Jersey.
"Beating France A in the second game was probably one of the best wins I've ever been a part of in any sport. We stayed in the same hotel as them and they were pretty upset after that," Tiedemann said. "The big thing about that win was it gave us a chance to play England as well. When you playing two top teams like that back to back, those kind of games are going to make us better as a team."
At the 2009 Churchill Cup, Tiedemann started against Georgia and Ireland in his first test season as the youngest player on Canada's roster.
"My role was basically the same as last year — do your best at scrums, make all your tackles and run the ball when you can," he said. "Like anything, the more experience you get the more comfortable you feel on the field. You're willing to experiment more with running the ball more or coming up harder on defence and making more tackles. You kind of get out of your shell."
Rugby caps
Tiedemann's five caps in eight appearances with Canada are the most ever by a St. Albert player. His introduction to rugby started with the Lorne Akins Gators' co-ed flag rugby program. His framed Canada jersey hangs in a prominent place in Lorne Akins School alongside the jersey of another illustrious Gators' alumnus, hockey star Jarome Iginla.
In high school Tiedemann shone as a multi-sports star and ranks among the very best rugby players to come out of Paul Kane.
Tiedemann also played age-group rugby at SARFC and was a member of the club's U16 provincial championship team in 2004.
At the U18 level he played at the 2005 Canada Summer Games with the provincial team and the next year was the only Alberta player named to the all-star team at the Rugby Canada National Championships Festival.
Tiedemann also represented Canada at the U17 level in England before advancing to the U19 and U20 worlds in Ireland and Wales.
His first season of senior rugby with SARFC was with the 2007 second division provincial champions.
The noted high school football player with the St. Albert High Skyhawks is only the second player in SARFC history to play for the senior national team and the first to do so in Edmonton on July 11, 2009 against the United States Eagles in the second leg of the World Cup qualifying series. Canada's 41-18 triumph clinched a spot at the World Cup.
His last game wearing the SARFC colours was Aug. 6, 2009 with the third division Exiles against the St. Albert thirds.
"It's nice to have a club that supports me so much," Tiedemann said. "When I come back in the summers, it makes me more excited to play rugby because these guys here have such a passion for the sport and obviously they're doing well themselves, winning the championship [Labatt's Cup premier division for the first time in club history], which was pretty exciting to read that in the paper."
After graduating from the Vikes next year, Tiedemann is eager to turn pro.
"There are a lot of opportunities out there. If I do make the World Cup team, I will see how the dust settles after that and either go to graduate school or pursue other rugby options elsewhere overseas," he said. "I would definitely play for anyone who will take me."
