Ray Barkwill

Ray Barkwill

Date of birth	(1980-08-26) August 26, 1980
Place of birth	Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	105 kg (231 lb)[1]
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Hooker
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2012– 2016–	Ontario Blues Sacramento Express	34 10	(40) (5)
correct as of 17 April 2016.
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2009–10 2010–12	UWA Western Australia	36 12	(45) (10)
correct as of 29 August 2015.
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2012	Western Force	8	(0)
correct as of 15 April 2016.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2012–	Canada	36	(15)
correct as of 26 November 2016.

Raymond "Ray" Barkwill (born 26 August 1980) is a Canadian rugby union player who currently plays for the Sacramento Express in PRO Rugby and the Canada national rugby union team.^[2][3]

Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Barkwill began playing his rugby at Westlane Secondary School along with Niagara Wasp RFC. He went on to play for the Niagara Thunder while being educated at Brock University in St. Catharines. In 2007 he captained Brock University team to its first OUA Rugby Championship while being named OUA Finals MVP. Barkwill graduated from Brock University with a BSc. Physical Geography, at this time he continued his post graduate studies at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. He then joined the University of Western Australia's Rugby Club in June and was then selected to the Western Australians Perth Spirit at the end of September of that season for their tour to Adelaide, South Australia.

2011

At this time Barkwill continued to play the season with UWA where they won the Grand Finals of the PINDAN Premier Grade against rivals Nedland, where Ray was voted on as best and fairest at this time for UWA. Shortly after the finals Ray was invited again to join the Western Australian State side (Perth Spirit). In late 2011 Barkwill was selected to train with the Super 15 side Western Force "A" for the upcoming 2012 season. At this time he caught the eye of Canadian national coach Kieran Crowley.^[4][5]

2012

In January Barkwill made his first selection for the Force "A" side while continuing to play for the Perth Spirit side. In March Ray join the Ontario Blues on there tour of South America versus Argentinean province Salta and National sides Chile and Uruguay. On this tour is where Ray was given the nickname " La Flama Blanca " by the Argentinean crowd in attendance. Concluding this tour Barkwill was informed about joining the Ontario Blues team for the 2012 Canadian Rugby Championship season back in Canada. The Ontario Blues went on to win their second consecutive CRC championship in September. Barkwill was then selected to represent Canada "A" at the Americas Rugby Championship held in Langford, British Columbia.^[6][7] After the ARC concluding in October, Barkwill was then selected for Canada's Autumn tour to the UK, versus Samoa, Russia and New Zealand Māori. On November 9, 2012 He started for Canada in his first cap vs Samoa in Colwyn Bay, Wales where they lost 42-12.^[8]

2015

Ray was selected for the Canadians team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which was held in England. Ray started the first two games vs Ireland and Italy while coming off the bench for the France match. He is recognized by his big beard along with fellow teammate Hubert Buydens making news during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

2016

In March 2016 Ray announced that he had signed with Sacramento Express of PRO Rugby in its inaugural season.

References