North Wales sign USA prop Offerdahl

James Gordon

North Wales Crusaders have signed USA World Cup prop Mark Offerdahl.

Offerdahl, 26, last played rugby league for Carcassonne in the French Elite One competition, where he played alongside current Crusaders player Stuart Reardon, who was instrumental in convincing the Manly Sea Eagles product to move to North Wales.

Head Coach Clive Griffiths said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Mark has agreed to sign with us, I believe he’ll be a really important player for us next year. Considering the amount of attention he was receiving from Super League clubs and also an enquiry from at least one NRL outfit, the fact he has decided to come to Crusaders is a major coup.

“I think the timing was just perfect, as had he come to the attention of the top coaches a little earlier in the year he’d have undoubtedly been snapped up.”

Offerdahl has most recently being playing rugby union in America, and starred in the USA‘s run to the World Cup quarter-finals.