Canada U20 Profile - James O'Neill

This is the third article in the Coast to Coast series featuring players at the men's U20 camp at Shawnigan Lake. The camp is part of the preparation for the trip to Romania to take part in the Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament starting on August 28th. The tournament includes eight teams, Canada are in a pool with Fiji, Uruguay and Portugal. The tournament winner will be promoted to the 2019 Junior World Championships. 
 
James O’Neill - UVIC Vikes (Cochrane, AB)

James O'Neill is captain of the U20 side, coach Jeff Williams saw the characteristics he wanted in a captain early on. Talking to James it was easy to see he has a bold and adventurous nature, he revels in the physicality of the breakdown aspect of the game, traits that are well suited to his openside flanker role. 

Where did the rugby journey begin? "I started rugby in Cochrane, I was 9 years old, it was an indoor session in the middle of nowhere, it was the middle of winter, my buddy had invited me. I gave it a try and liked it a lot and started playing club in Calgary, started playing with the Canucks and I've been with them ever since really."

What was the next step in your rugby development? "In Grade 10 I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to Shawnigan and played there for three years, the 1st XV in Grade 11 and 12. I've been lucky enough to be involved with the Howlers as well, my Grade 12 year I went down to Columbia with them. Right after Grade 12 I went back home and worked in a hockey arena for a little bit, driving a zamboni for about 7 months, then did a semester at UVic, then went down to New Zealand and played there for 6 months as well. It's been non-stop really since Grade 10, been all over the place."

How many countries have you travelled to as part of the rugby journey? "At least 14 or 15 in the last 3 years or so, it's just crazy right, the game takes you everywhere. You can travel the world with a pair of rugby boots and have a family a couple of hours later, it's great." 

What sports did you play early on and how did your family react to rugby? "I grew up playing football and wrestling in Alberta, I started playing football when I was about 5 and wrestling when I was about 7. My family are originally from England, my dad used to play rugby, my mom was more field hockey. I grew up playing with my brother, Connor, up till recently we've been playing on the same team and my dad has been coaching, so he's been there for us every step of the way really."

Does Cochrane have a rugby club? "Cochrane has a rugby team, the Bow Valley Grizzlies, for 6 or 7 years Tyler Hawes has been getting rugby going in Cochrane. We started as a 3rd division team and we were able to work our way up to the Alberta Premier league, this is the first year we had a 1st division team and a 2nd division team, great group of guys, and Ty is doing a great job out there. My brother plays out there and my dad helps manage the team, he's very much a Bow Valley guy now. It's kind of weird me being the only [Calgary] Canuck guy in the family but they helped me out so much throughout my age grade stuff with Canada and supported me."

You go to UVic now, how is the rivalry with UBC? "It's always interesting right, off the field we're quite close with a lot of the boys, we've grown up playing together and against each other, that's the way it seems to go really, it's a pretty heated rivalry." 

What's your area of study at university? "I'm studying political science, after I get my major in political science I want to do the PDP program, the Professional Development Program which qualifies you to teach high school." 

So teaching is in your future? "Ya, it kind of goes hand in hand with rugby, I really don't know where this rugby thing is going to take me, figure I might as well have a back up plan. Right after I'm done university I want to try and join firefighting, policing or maybe even the army, then come back to teaching a little bit down the road. I want to coach rugby one day."

You could end up back at Shawnigan. "[Laughter] exactly, a few people have joked with me about that, absolutely, which I wouldn't be opposed to but I want to make my own way before I come back to that"

How do you see your rugby progressing after U20, what pathways have you thought about? "After U20, it all depends on whether you get carded or not, whether you want to stay in Canada. I've been lucky enough to be involved in and out with the senior men's team this year, train whenever I can and be around the boys. I'd love to get a card but I've also thought about going overseas again, try my hand at that, see where I can play and how far I can take it overseas. While I'm young I feel that I would regret it if I didn't go with the carding or go overseas while I still can, I figure you can always do the university thing later on. It really depends what doors open for me, what's best for my development. I would love to go to the World Cup one day, it's a goal of mine and trying to work towards it"

You can follow James and his teammates on their trip to Romania through the Rugby Canada website. 

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The entire JWRT will be streamed live, with details to be confirmed by World Rugby.

Canada U20 Team for Junior World Trophy:
 
Gabriel Casey – Bytown Blues (Ottawa, ON)
Campbell Clarke – Swilers RFC (St. John’s, NL)
Reid Davis – Bayside RFC (Surrey, BC)
Tyler Duguid – Nor’Westers (Edmonton, AB)
Elias Ergas – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
Peter Ingoldsby – Exmouth RFC (England)
Quentin James – Perpignan (Vancouver, BC)
Gavin Kratz – UVIC Vikes (Victoria, BC)
Lachlan Kratz – Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)
Jackson Matthews – UVIC Vikes (Montreal, QC)
Jack McCarthy – Vandals RFC (St, John’s, NL)
Jack McRogers – McMaster University (Toronto, ON)
Josiah Morra – Toronto Saracens (Toronto, ON)
Guershom Mukendi – Stoney Creek RFC (Mississauga, ON)
James O’Neill – UVIC Vikes (Cochrane, AB)
Will Percillier – UBC Thunderbirds (Victoria, BC)
Brennig Prevost – UVIC Vikes (Victoria, BC)
Emerson Prior – Trent University (Toronto, ON)
Seth Purdey – UCal at Berkeley (Shawnigan Lake, BC)
Tyler Rockwell – James Bay AA (Calgary, AB)
Tyler Rowland – UBC Thunderbirds (Toronto, ON)
Owain Ruttan – UBC Thunderbirds (Toronto, ON)
Brandon Schellenberger – Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)
Michael Smith – UBC Thunderbirds (Surrey, BC)
Kevin Vertkas – UBC Thunderbirds (Toronto, ON)
Mitchell Wainman – (Banff, AB)
 
Canada’s schedule:
 
August 28 - Canada vs. Portugal
September 1 - Canada vs. Uruguay
September 5 - Canada vs Fiji
September 9 - Canada vs. TBC

Management:

Gethin Watts – Program Leader
Jeff Williams – Head Coach
Adam Roberts – assistant coach
Pat Parfrey – Manager
Kiyomi Thompson – Physiotherapist
Mylan Clairmont – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Derek Pue – Video Analyst
Shannon Houston – Doctor

U20 Support Group:

Karl Fix – Saskatchewan(Chair)
Andrew Purdey – BC
Mike Holmes – BC
David Robertson – BC
Bill Webb – Ontario
Pat Parfrey – Newfoundland
 
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