By Canadian Press

Hamilton Tiger-Cats pick France’s Gnahoua first in CFL European draft

Apr 11, 2019 | 11:31 AM

TORONTO — France’s Valentin Gnahoua was the first player taken Thursday in the CFL’s first-ever European player draft.

The six-foot-one, 235-pound defensive lineman from Le Mans, France, was selected first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

German linebacker Thiadric Hansen went second overall to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

At No. 3, the Montreal Alouettes took French running back Asnnel Robo, a former Montreal Carabin in the university ranks.

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French linebacker Maxime Rouyer went fourth overall to the Edmonton Eskimos.

The Toronto Argonauts followed, selecting Germany defensive lineman Marc Anthony Hor.

German-born receiver Max Earvin Zimmermann was taken at No. 6 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Receiver Benjamin Plu of Le Mans went to the B.C. Lions at No. 7 before the Ottawa Redblacks selected Italian receiver Jordan Bouah.

The Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders concluded the draft by selecting Finnish-born linebacker Roni Salonen.

This was the second CFL draft this year involving ‘global’ players. The league conducted a three-round draft of Mexican players in January after holding a combine there.

Eighteen European players were eligible for the draft after participating in the CFL’s national combine last month in Toronto. The players were from Germany (six), France and Finland (four each), Denmark and Italy (two each).

A total of six receivers were up for selection. Also included were five defensive linemen, three linebackers, two offensive linemen, a running back and quarterback.

Eleven Germans have suited up for CFL teams in league history along with two from France and Italy (that includes recently retired B.C. Lions head coach Wally Buono). No players from either Finland or Denmark have ever been on a Canadian team roster.

Once the European players sign CFL contracts, they’ll be eligible to attend training camp, which is scheduled to begin May 19. However, the league and CFL Players’ Association remain in talks with the current deal set to expire May 18.

The status of the European players — whether they’re regarded as national or international — is expected to be determined in collective bargaining.

The Canadian Press