Article below from Wales on Hassler:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... e-14723923
He is the biker who finds himself parked up with no road to ride on, even though he has plenty of petrol in the tank.
It is probably tough being Jeff Hassler right now.
He is the wing who for five seasons provided the shock and awe in the Ospreys’ backline. It used to be said the sternest test of courage a man could face involved catching a high ball as the Pontypool pack emerged out of the night and thundered forward like the hounds of hell.
But in recent times it has taken some guts for anyone to stand firm when in the direct line of the half-man, half-missile that is Hassler.
Would-be tacklers knew there was next to no chance of a sidestep. But the impact would be maximum force. Nerves were tested to breaking point.
Startlingly, it is possible rugby may not see much more of the Canadian wing.
He wants to keep playing but he doesn’t have a contract after his departure from the Ospreys and that has forced him to contemplate a possibility that a power-packed player in his prime at 26 really shouldn’t be contemplating.
“If I don’t get a deal then the reality is it will be hard to continue,” he says.
“I want to keep going because I don’t think it’s time for me to finish, but circumstances are out of my control and we’ll have to see what happens. My agent is looking but it’s not a great time to be without a contract, especially if you’re a Canadian in an era when countries are imposing quotas on how many foreign players clubs and regions can carry.
“I think I still have plenty to offer and I will be joining up with the Canada squad next week for our summer programme of internationals.
“But beyond that it’s uncertain.
“Right now, it’s just great to be at home with the family.”
How did it come to this? That Hassler did a fine job for the Ospreys can be seen from the former grid-iron man winning the social media player of the year award at the region’s end-of-season dinner. Fans relished his ultra-direct style and when he announced he would be departing, there were scores of messages on his Twitter feed bemoaning his impending exit and wondering exactly what had led to it.
Until now, Hassler has largely kept his counsel on the matter.
But he has nothing to hide and insists he has no regrets about what happened.
“The situation was that I had to let the Ospreys know my intentions as early as last November, whether to exercise a release clause or let the contract simply roll over.
"I had been at the region for five seasons and while I had enjoyed my spell hugely and made a lot of friends, I thought it might be time to see if there was anything else out there.
“I stayed in touch with Steve Tandy and promised him I would keep him informed of my plans.
“Steve told me they needed to know what my situation was for definite and by then I’d come to the conclusion I wanted to stay.
“But then things went a bit weird. We lost to Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup. I woke up a couple of days later in Canada to learn Steve had gone. Then I was hearing different voices (at the Ospreys) and the rest is history. George North was eventually signed up.
“I don’t regret what happened.
“I knew what the result could be when I told the Ospreys I wanted to see what was out there.
“I did not anticipate it would be this tough to get a contract, but I guess it’s the way the market goes. Second rows and props are more in demand than wings, especially of the Canadian variety, and many clubs and regions would have spent their budgets for next season.”
Hassler is a free spirit with a love of biking — in Wales he would regularly take off and explore when the mood took him — but as his return home beckoned he posted a picture of his 2013 Triumph Scrambler on Twitter with a message urging any would-be buyers to get in touch. “Pains me to have to say goodbye,” his tweet ran.
Subliminally, he might have been talking about his exit from the Ospreys as well as the loss of his faithful mode of travel — we can’t be sure.
Anyway, since arriving back in Canada he has been enjoying some well-earned downtime, hiking with his dad. He doesn’t seem the sort to lose sleep over anything, not even his rugby career.
“What will I do if a contract offer doesn’t come in? Probably travel for a year or two,” he says.
“It’s something I have always told myself I would do at some point.
“Long term I will perhaps go into property investment.
“I’d like to carry on playing rugby right now.
“But if nothing happens on that front it’s not the end of the world.”
Hassler enjoyed his time in Wales, on and off the pitch. “I have great memories,” he says.
“I made some top friends, such as Aaron Jarvis, Josh Matavesi and Kieron Fonotia, while I already had a great mate in Tyler Ardron.
“Aside from the injuries, the rugby largely went well for me, too. I had the chance to play alongside some world-class players and it was a brilliant experience.
“The best player I played alongside? It’s a tough question, but I would probably have to say Justin Tipuric.
“He really stood out during my time with the Ospreys.
“Week-in, week-out he produced an incredibly high level of performance without seeking a word of praise. He is just a quiet guy who is humble and goes about his business with the minimum of fuss.
“And he has tremendous skill and versatility. He could play anywhere in the side and do an excellent job.
“All round, he’s just a great guy.”
Hassler admits he was taken aback by all the support he received once it became known he was leaving the Ospreys: “The fans there were always brilliant to me.
“Their support meant the world and I can’t thank them enough.”
All good things must end.
But Hassler leaves behind many fond memories.
Urging clubs and regions to reach for their cheque books and sign up his old team-mate, Toulon-bound Rhys Webb called Hassler a “try-scoring beast”.
Defences will be pleased if no one does opt to snap up the World Cup man.
But it will be rugby’s loss.
Didn't have anything to say about it, though.
Re sounding boring, I thought they weren't so much boring as poor. One comment on the stream put it best - they sounded drunk, but needed to be drunker to be entertaining!
