Atkinson joins Fylde on loan

9:10am Saturday 8th November 2008

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Canadian international lock Oliver Atkinson has joined Fylde on loan from National One club Moseley.

Atkinson will be at the club on a match to match basis, in part covering for experienced lock Nick King who broke his right arm against Kendal. He will come into selection contention for Saturday's game at Caldy.

The 28-year-old 6ft 5ins, 18st forward was born in Sheffield and moved to Canada when he was 16.

He has six full caps for Canada having made his debut in 2005 in Japan. He played for Canada in New Zealand in June 2007 and again in the Churchill cup in June 2008.

At a club level Atkinson played the 2006/07 season with French Pro2 side Stade Bordelais (Bordeaux-Begles) before joining Moseley for the 2007/8 season when he was an ever present at lock, making a total of 36 appearances.

Mark Nelson, Fylde director of rugby, said:"We're delighted to welcome Oliver into our squad. Following the serious injury to one of our crucial players, Nick King, I felt it was important to bring in a strong replacement in his very specific position.

“We have very good players in Alistair Atkinson and Grant Ferguson who are primarily back row players who can play in the second row, and promising yet inexperienced second rows in Matt Thompson and Andrew Rosen who we are trying to develop, both are making good progress.

“However Oliver is an international player and we will need his level of play to maintain our challenge, particularly in the wake of injuries and setbacks we are encountering at the moment.”