Rugby Canada Recognizes Five Performance Academy Graduates


Rugby Canada would like to acknowledge and thank Pacific Pride graduates Foster DeWitt, Liam Murray, Emerson Prior, James O’Neill and Dewald Kotze for their hard work and dedication to the program during their tenure. Rugby Canada’s Academy has already seen the direct benefits of the Academy, most recently with DeWitt making his Senior 15s debut against Belgium on November 13, 2021.

All five players channeled their playing time with local clubs such as Port Alberni Black Sheep, James Bay Athletic Association and Peterborough Pagans, as well as Trent University and the University of Victoria Vikes into Rugby Canada’s Academy program and will now join Major League Rugby (MLR) for the next stages of their rugby development and careers.

“It’s exciting to watch our Academy Pride players excel within the program and generate future opportunities for themselves within the rugby community,” said head coach Phil Mack. “The success these players are having not only benefits them individually, it also benefits Rugby Canada’s Men’s program moving forward.”

2021 ACADEMY GRADUATES

Foster Dewitt
Hometown: Courtenay, BC
Years in Academy: 1.5
Previous Clubs: Port Alberni Black Sheep
Professional Club: New England Free Jacks

Liam Murray
Hometown: Langley, BC
Years in Academy: 2
Previous Clubs: Langley Rugby Club, James Bay AA
Professional Club: Dallas Jackals

Emerson Prior
Hometown: Brockville, ON
Years in Academy: 2
Previous Clubs: Trent University, Peterborough Pagans
Professional Club: Utah Warriors

James O’Neill
Hometown: Cochrane, AB
Years in Academy: 2
Previous Clubs: Calgary Canucks, University of Victoria Vikes
Professional Club: Toronto Arrows

Dewald Kotze
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Years in Academy: 3
Previous Clubs: UBCOB Ravens, Strathcona Druids RFC
Professional Club: Dallas Jackals

Pacific Pride Academy is a national high-performance men’s program, led by head coach Phil Mack, aimed at preparing young emerging Canadian players for professional rugby at the highest level. Learn more about the Pacific Pride Academy by clicking HERE.

ABOUT RUGBY CANADA
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, residing on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Te’mexw Treaty Association, and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.