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Canada's Thiel is all heart PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Alan Adams   
Monday, 03 September 2007
Jon ThielThe question hit Canadian prop Jon Thiel as hard as a charge by New Zealand's front row.
It was 13 months ago doctors had Thiel sign a pre-surgery waiver indicating whether to resuscitate him in the event of complications during open-heart surgery to repair a valve. The IRB Rugby World Cup was the last thing on his mind as Thiel glared at the piece of paper. He focused on his wife, Jenny, and their three boys, and his immediate priority was quality of life.

"When they put that (piece of paper) there, it was reality time," Thiel said on Monday after Canada's first practice session since arriving in France on Sunday. "But you have no choice. The doctor told me it was routine surgery. But once you see that piece of paper, it is a different feeling."

The surgery was successful and while recovering in hospital, Thiel watched highlights of a match between Canada and the USA. When his surgeon visited, Thiel asked whether he could play again, and whether at the highest level.

The surgery was performed on 28 July last year. Five months later, Thiel was back playing rugby.

"I wasn't ready to stop playing," said Thiel, who has won 37 caps in an international career dating back to 1998 and including the 1999 and 2003 world cups. He has played professionally in England, France and Wales. "I can go full out and I will go full out."

Canada's first game is on Sunday against Wales. "I'll know some of those guys and it will be fun to face them," Thiel said.

Coach Ric Suggitt (CAN) said defeat by New Zealand in June convinced him to add veteran leadership to his squad, and the decision to put Thiel on the roster was an easy one to make.

The Canadians know they have to win three games to qualify for the quarter-finals and the last time that happened was in 1991.

"We all want success, and whether or not that is pressure is open for suggestion. We can use that to our advantage and if we all perform to 100 per cent we will succeed," said Thiel.

Thiel will need further open-heart surgery in six to eight years, with similiar procedures to follow.

"I'll worry about that then," he said. "Now my focus is the world cup."
 
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