​Sion Parry made his Canada debut against Tonga in 2023 [Canada Rugby]Sion Parry hopes it will be third time lucky for Ebbw Vale in Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) this season, but first the Welsh carpenter aims to take another step towards nailing a World Cup spot.The all-action flanker has been appointed as captain of the Steelmen for 2026-27, which gets under way this weekend.However, Parry will not lead Ebbw out in the first two rounds of SRC against Swansea and Aberavon.The 27-year-old will instead be on national duty with Canada and went up against Japan in a friendly last weekend to warm up for the Pacific Nations Cup.This weekend it is Fiji in Osaka, then either the Brave Blossoms or USA in Tokyo.Three Tests and potentially three more opportunities for Parry in his bid to make the cut in 2027.”Hopefully I will make that World Cup squad, but it’s a year away and that’s a long time in rugby,” said the flanker.”There are plenty of internationals to play, so I’ll just go game by game.”Dragons feel extra pressure after avoiding WRU cutThe gay rugby player who feared rejection but got total supportParry’s father, Geraint, was an inside centre for Builth Wells, Wrexham and Chester who coached Sion at Rhiwbina in Cardiff.His mother, Kate, was born in Ontario and that opened up the opportunity to represent the Canucks when then coach Kingsley Jones saw footage of the flanker playing for Pontypridd.”It will be crazy to look back one day and think that I played international rugby,” said Parry.”It all happened so quickly and to make my debut all the way out in Tonga was special, and even more special because it was on my mother’s birthday as well.”Canada are ranked 34th in the world and Parry has already faced stern challenges against nations from the top 10.”We played Fiji last year and they were so physical and fast, while Scotland [in 2023] played with such pace and efficiency and that was mentally challenging,” he admitted.If all goes to plan, Parry will go up against Argentina, Fiji and Spain in Australia next year, which would require some time off the tools.The forward balances rugby with his job as a carpenter and works alongside younger brother Owen.”I am like a full-time professional when I go away with Canada, then I come back and go to work, fitting the gym and training around that,” he said.”It can be difficult fitting the job around international rugby when you have to sometimes disappear, but it’s worth it for however many years I get to do this.”I’m lucky to work with my brother and he will tie up any loose ends on jobs while I am away.”Should Sion make the World Cup, expect Owen to be part of the Parry contingent in the stands in Australia.Hunting silverware with SteelmenSion Parry was man of the match in Ebbw Vale’s SRC semi-final win against Newport [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Unless Ebbw Vale boss Jason Strange believes a breather is needed, Parry could go from three weeks of Test rugby to facing Rygbi Gogledd Cymru in SRC.From the heat and