The official kick off of the Canadian Football League’s 2023 season this week will also mark the fourth year of the CFL Global initiative which was launched in 2019.
So, this season as well, international players will be a part of the action as the league continues its Global program.
As in years past, all nine CFL teams will be required to dress one Global player — an athlete from outside Canada or the United States — on their gameday roster. Teams can also choose to dress an additional Global player if they earn their way onto the field although the new requirement to dress three quarterbacks this season could limit those opportunities.
Following the conclusion of training camp and two preseason games, teams made their final cuts this past weekend and filled out their practice rosters, giving us the first indication of which Global athletes will be expected to see the field the most. Going from West to East, here are the international names you need to know for the upcoming CFL season. Some changes could be made on game day as teams adjust their rosters.
Active Roster: DL Tibo Debaille, Belgium
Practice Roster: WR Jevoni Robinson, Jamaica
Injured: LB Maxim Rouyer, France
Active Roster: P Cody Grace, Australia
Practice Roster: OL Isaac Moore, Sweden; S Bailey Divine Scott, Australia
Injured: K Toshiki Sato, Japan
Active Roster: K Dean Faithfull, Great Britain
Practice Roster: DT Adam Raine, Great Britain
Active Roster: P Kaare Vedvik, Norway; P Adam Korsak, Australia
Practice Roster: LB Lukas Ruoss, Switzerland
Active Roster: P Jamieson Sheehan, Australia; LB Les Mauro, Japan
Practice Roster: OL Tomoya Machino, Japan; DB Souleymane Karamoko, Ivory Coast; P Karl Schmitz, Bermuda
Injured: DL Thiadric Hansen, Germany
Active Roster: P John Haggerty, Australia
Practice Roster: DB Tigi Sanko, Great Britain; LB Emmanuel Salola, Great Britain; K Alfredo Gachuz Lozada, Mexico
Released: DL Simeon Okonta-Wariso, Great Britain
Active Roster: P Bailey Flint, Australia; LB Penei Pavihi, American Samoa
Practice Roster: DT Chris Mulumba. Finland; P Blake Hayes, Australia
Active Roster: P Rhys Byrns, Australia; P Joseph Zema, Australia
Practice Roster: WR Kevin Kaya, France; K Jose Maltos, Mexico
Released: DL Simon Sandberg, Sweden
Active Roster: LB Tyron Vrede, Holland; DT Blessman Ta’ala, American Samoa
Practice Roster: DL Thomas Schaffer, Austria; OL Roman Wahreit, Germany; OL Lukas Lavin, Sweden
Released: DB Edris Jean-Alphonse, Great Britain