Head coach Sean McDonaugh of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) men’s rugby program announced the nine-member recruit class that will join the Paladins for the 2009-10 school year. The group includes Four Canada Games athletes, two transfers and some needed depth in the backfield.
Brandon Black is a hooker from Holland Landing, Ont. who attends Dr J.M Denison Secondary School, and plays for the Ontario provincial U18 squad that will compete at the Canada Summer Games. Brandon is a three sport athlete competing in Hockey, wrestling and rugby. He is a skilled rugby player who will make a large impact in the front row with his tenacious defense and crunching tackles.
Colin Carswell is from Richmond Hill, Ont, He is a transfer student from Acadia University where he played football for the last two seasons. Colin’s incredible speed and experience will add some quality depth to the RMC back three.
Stuart Davis is from Campbellford Ont, where he attended Campbellford district high school and played his club rugby with the Peterborough Pagans RFC. Stuart size speed and skill will be a valued addition to the center pairings of the Red and White as he is expected to challenge for a starting spot right out of camp.
Ahmed Jaradat is from London Ont, where he earned OUA first team all star awards with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs football team. Ahmed will be entering RMC as a military policeman and bring his large frame to the RMC front row where he is expected to add some needed depth.
Quinn Kenney is from Wilcox, SK, where he attends Notre Dame College. Quinn is a Prop forward who plays with the Manitoba Provincial U18 side who will be competing at the Canada Summer Games. His experience and play will be counted on to back up the already solid RMC front row.
Jae Mok Lee is a winger from Victoria, B.C. he attends Brentwood College who won the AA British Columbia Secondary School Championships this past spring. Jae posse’s incredible quickness with good speed and a keen sense of the game. He will be expected to compete for a starting spot in the back three.
Clarke O’Reilly hails from Kitchener, Ont, where he attended Forest heights Collegiate and was a three sport athlete in football, hockey and rugby. Clarke has played representative rugby at both the provincial and national level (Canada U17). Currently he is a member of the Ontario U18 team that will compete at the Canada Summer Games in PEI. Clarke plays 8 man for Waterloo county RFC and will be expected to bring the same intensity, leadership and brilliant skills set to the RMC back row.
Riley Saliken is a scrum half from Abbottsford, B.C. where he attended Robert Bateman Secondary School. Riley plays for the Abbottsford rugby club and has played representative rugby for Canada at the U19 Level. Riley is a gifted athlete and complete rugby player, he will certainly fill a void at the half back spot.
Rick Spiller is a Flanker/Center from Vernon, B.C. and attends Shawnigan Lake secondary school where his team came away with the gold medal in the British Columbia AAA Secondary Schools Championships. He is a member of the Crimson Tide regional side and a strong contender for the BC provincial team that will compete at the Canada Summer Games. Rick is a tenacious defender with excellent speed and skills. He will be expected to compete for a starting spot right out of camp.
“We are thrilled with the incoming class of student-athletes, not only in depth but with the quality of the individuals. Each of them will help us on the field immediately, some as starters’ right out of the gate others later in the season as we strive for the playoffs. This is our second straight high quality recruiting class; the word is getting out about RMC and all it has to offer.”
The paladins open their 2009 campaign in Montreal with Concordia University on August 26th. A complete schedule will be available soon.