Saskatchewan Rugby U-18 Men’s Head Coach Robin MacDowell is pleased to announce the Provincial Men’s U-18 Sevens Squad for the upcoming 2019 Season.

We were fortunate to have a selection panel consisting of 8 different coaches from across the province including Brett Kannenberg (University of Regina Mens Coach), Dakota Matthews (Sask Mens 7s Coach), Dan Smith (Notre Dame Hounds Mens Coach), Mark Discombe (MacDowell Rugby Academy Coach, Wolfpack Player), Brennan Marcoux (University of Saskatchewan & Senior Sask Mens Coach), Kayla Mack (Sask Womens 7s Coach), & Robin MacDowell (Sask Mens 7s).

After two Provincial Identification Camps in October and December the selection panel has selected a squad of 24 athletes to our provincial program sevens program. Our first major event will be Canada West Competition February 17th & 18th in Edmonton, Alberta. With the national sevens festival cancelled for 2019 Team Sask will be travelling to Florida for The Tropical 7s where we will face other Canadian Provincial Programs including several teams from across the globe. As we approach the competitions we will be selecting our traveling squad.

“For our staff including Kayla, Dakota, with Manager Wade Clarke joining us last season. This is our third year building our provincial sevens programs and the depth to our squad is a credit to all those volunteers involved. In 2016 we barely had enough athletes to field a team, and now we are naming 24 young men from a pool of over 50 players that have attended our two identification camps.After not winning a game at the 2016 National Competition in Vancouver, the program improved to a 4th place finish winning 4 of 5 games in 2017. We have invested heavily in younger players back in 2016 and now these players are entering their third year in the program like Carson Clarke (17), Dreydon Martin (17), Roan Carter (18), with many returning second years Ryker Frank (16), Caylem McCormick (18), Matt Klimchuk (16), Colton Aikens (16).We have three very exciting 15 year olds Jack Hanwell, Atlas Maze, and Lucas Scheck who will be pushing our older players for travelling spots as we approach our competitions,” said Coach Robin MacDowell.

Another player to look out for is Xander YahYaykeekook who was identified by the newly formed First Nations Blackbear Rugby Program Co-founder and Black Bear Coach Jessi Gerard.

It is such a huge development opportunity for Xander to be selected to the Provincial 7’s Program! I am so excited, both for him, and for the future of rugby in Saskatchewan! There is so much talent to be discovered in every First Nation community, and this is only the beginning. Rugby is a close-knit community, and I want that for First Nation communities across the province, a place where we get to know each other, care for and support each other as we strive to be the best,” said Black Bear Coach Jessi.

Name:	Hometown
Roan Carter	Regina Condors RFC
Eric Hudon	Regina Leboldus Suns
Luke Wilson	Saskatoon
Caylem McCormick	Warman
Matt Klimchuk	Regina Rogues RFC
Thayne Clarke	Prince Albert Whiskey Jacks
Dreydon Martin	Regina Thom Collegiate
Darius Towers	Regina Thom Collegiate
Carson Clarke	Wilcox Notre Dame Hounds
Ryker Frank	Regina Leboldus Suns
Alex Daves	Regina
Alistair Marshall	Wilcox Notre Dame Hounds
Kolton Bitz	Regina
Sebastian Bosch	Regina Leboldus Suns
Lucas Scheck	Macklin Notre Dame Hounds
Aiden Osika	Wilcox Notre Dame Hounds
Atlas Maze	Pilot Butte Campbell Collegiate
Jack Hanwell	Regina Campbell Collegiate
Xander YahYahkeekook	Prince Albert Black Bear Rugby
Colton Aikens	Briercrest Christian Academy
Ethan Mattern	Wilcox Notre Dame Hounds
Cameron Marchand	Saskatoon U of S Huskies
Luka Garic	Regina
Jeff Muma	Regina University of Regina Cougars
Head Coach:	Robin MacDowell
Assistant Coach:	Dakota Matthews
Manager:	Wade Clarke

Additional U18 Girls 7s program announcement and updates will be coming soon.