Music: {allcanada} VICTORIA'S RIORDAN LEADS CANADIAN RUGBY TEAM BY EXAMPLE

Pat Riordan doesn't like excuses. So the Canadian rugby captain isn't interested in the obstacles facing his team ahead of the World Cup.

Lack of a domestic pro league. A largely amateur talent pool. The chasm between the haves and have-nots. Playing against fully professional sides.

"We could use that as a crutch if we want -- and some people do ... If we're going to moan about it then we're never going to really get beyond it, right?" asked the Victoria-based hooker.

The 31-year-old Riordan, a former carpenter who now combines his studies at the University of Victoria with full-time rugby, and his Canadian teammates are in England for the Churchill Cup, a six-team tournament that stands as one of coach Kieran Crowley's key signposts on the way to this fall's World Cup.

The tournament offers Canada some elite competition. But it also provides Crowley a chance to spend three valuable weeks with his side, currently ranked 15th in the world.

The Canadians open Saturday against Italy 'A' at Franklin's Gardens, home of the Northampton Saints, before taking on Russia next Wednesday. They conclude with a playoff game on June 18.

Originally from Surrey, B.C., Riordan (pronounced RYE-or-dunn) prefers to see the rugby glass half-full.

A professional player has to concentrate on the club signing his paycheque, he notes, while he can build his schedule around the national team.

"And just because we're not getting paid as much there's no real reason why we can't be as fit or strong or as prepared as these other countries," he said. "In the past we've probably tried to use that as an excuse.

"It's a reality and we're not going to start winning until we get past that."

It's that kind of outlook that prompted Crowley to name Riordan caption, adding him to a distinguished list that includes the likes of Gareth Rees (Riordan's brother-in- law), Al Charron, Morgan Quarry and Mike James most recently.

"I really respect Pat's values, for a start," said Crowley. "His off-field values and the way he carries himself.

"He's all about the team. He shows real leadership ... He says what he thinks too, he stands up for things. He likes to have a debate about things as well, which is great. He just doesn't accept what we say, and he keeps us on our toes as well as far as the coaching side of things goes.

"I just think he's very good at managing people and things like that."

Crowley sums up by calling Riordan "just a genuine good person."

It's high praise from a former All Black who is all about character.

The six-foot-one Riordan has also improved on the field, building up his body to help his scrummaging.

"He works really hard at his game," said Crowley. "He's good thrower (in the lineout) and he does a lot of work through the middle of the contact area which people don't see."

New Zealand will be his second World Cup ("knock on wood," says Riordan). Currently 240 pounds, he was bigger at the 2007 tournament but slimmed down afterwards as the game became more mobile. Eventually he felt too light and so put some of that weight back on.

Riordan shares the frustration of fans at the constant delays around the scrum at the top level of the game. Different referees seem to have different rules and the dark arts of the scrum have become a mystery to many.

"Probably front-rowers are as much to blame as the referees," Riordan said candidly. "I don't know how open we are. We always pride ourselves on being mysterious and now it has become such a focal point that the referees I don't think actually know what's going on in there. But they get a lot of pressure.

"People think as long as the ball comes out, then everybody should be happy. Whereas front-row players see it as a real contest. You don't assume every tackle that the team that takes the ball in gets the ball back every ruck so why should it be that way in the scrum?

"So that's something that we've got to look at as players and say why are we making it so mysterious? Why can't we have an honest contest in there?"

Riordan appreciates his role as captain -- but not for himself.

"I look at these guys and I'm pretty proud to be captain of them, which I'm sure those other (past) captains felt as well," he said.

Riordan, who plays for the University of Victoria and the B.C. Bears, studies geography when not playing rugby. His tuition is paid for and, as a carded athlete, he gets a monthly stipend.

"I have a very supportive wife, who understands that I am sort of stuck in between school and rugby. She understands at certain times of the year I'm pretty busy with school. I go from the gym to the library and home, and back to the gym and library.

"Not much of a life," he concludes, "but it's great."