The CFL has granted linebacker Maxime Rouyer a one-time exception to the league’s roster guidelines, altering his standing from World to Nationwide for the rest of his profession.
The Canadian Soccer League and its Gamers’ Affiliation struck the deal to deliver the Frenchman’s standing consistent with that of different foreign-born U Sports activities alumni, who’re allowed to qualify as Nationals below the present collective bargaining settlement, as long as they’ve performed not less than three seasons and graduated from their U Sports activities establishment. That rule was not in pressure when Rouyer graduated from McGill College, which restricted him to World standing.
Historically, a participant’s roster standing on the time of his entry into the CFL is everlasting and will get grandfathered in with all future adjustments. The particular exception granted to Rouyer is believed to be the primary of its variety below the present guidelines.
Notably, kicker Boris Bede, who hailed from France and attended Université Laval, continued to be counted as an American till his remaining season in 2024 as a result of neither the present Nationwide guidelines nor the World program existed when he was a rookie. Australian punter Josh Bartel was additionally famously thought-about a Nationwide till his remaining season in 2019, although the rule that made him one was modified in 2014.
Argonauts defensive again Jonathan Edouard, who’s American however performed at Carleton College, is essentially the most notable instance of a participant who counts as a Nationwide as a result of U Sports activities pathway. Different latest draft picks to qualify on this method embrace Mexican offensive lineman Diego Alatorre, who was chosen within the third spherical by Saskatchewan out of UBC in 2022, and French defensive again Yani Gouadfel, who was taken within the sixth spherical by Ottawa out of Bishop’s in 2024.
Rouyer was the one lively World participant for whom the U Sports activities pathway rule may very well be utilized retroactively.
The 31-year-old was chosen fourth general within the first spherical of the 2019 CFL European Draft, the precursor to the trendy World Draft, by the Edmonton Elks. He spent two seasons with the crew earlier than being launched.
Rouyer spent the primary a part of the 2022 season with the Wroclaw Panthers within the European League of Soccer, amassing 89 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and one defensive landing. The native of Troyes, France, later signed with the B.C. Lions in September of that 12 months, and has been with the crew for 4 seasons, taking part in a key position on particular groups and turning into one of many group’s CFLPA participant representatives.
In 60 profession CFL video games, Rouyer has collected eight defensive tackles, 26 particular groups tackles, and a compelled fumble.
Previous to his skilled profession, the six-foot-one, 225-pound linebacker attended McGill from 2015 to 2018, registering 103 whole tackles and 4.5 sacks in 23 whole video games with the Redbirds. He moved to Canada on the age of 16 to attend Cégep de Jonquière.
Since 2019, CFL groups have been required to decorate one World participant, hailing from outdoors the US or Canada, as a part of their gameday roster. Groups can also elect to make use of the forty fifth spot on the roster for both a second World participant or a twenty first Canadian, with the vast majority of franchises in 2025 electing to make use of the spot for a world athlete. As well as, three additional apply roster spots can be found for groups to make use of on World gamers.
Whereas these roster guidelines have compelled groups that had been reluctant to play worldwide athletes to take action, World standing has develop into extremely limiting as the extent of expertise accessible in this system has elevated. Whereas groups initially believed that they might play three or extra Globals as long as these further gamers changed American roster spots, pushback from the CFLPA has capped the quantity at precisely two.
Within the case of Rouyer, the Lions had been solely in a position to play him in eight video games in 2025 as a result of presence of South African punter Carl Meyer and Belgian defensive deal with Tibo Debaillie. Whereas the crew could have opted to decorate the linebacker over different gamers for particular groups worth, they might not whereas their different two Globals had been wholesome and contributing.
That dynamic has deflated the worth of some World gamers in free company and adjusted the best way that groups strategy the World Draft, additional entrenching the emphasis on punters and inspiring groups already comfy with their incumbents to go for futures picks relatively than herald expertise to compete instantly.
The CFLPA has indicated to 3DownNation that they don’t have any plans to pursue additional exceptions just like the one granted to Rouyer or re-examine the World roster guidelines presently.
Rouyer, who’s slated to develop into a free agent on February 10, now not has to fret about these issues. He’ll have the ability to signal his subsequent contract as if he had been a Canadian, which might enhance his job prospects significantly.
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