Ray Barkwill

The Seattle Seawolves have signed Canadian National Team player Ray Barkwill.

Ray Barkwill was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario and began playing rugby at Westlane Secondary School along with Niagara Wasp RFC of Rugby Ontario’s Senior Men’s League. He went on to play for the Niagara Thunder while continuing his education at Brock University in Ontario. In 2007, he captained Brock University team to its first OUA Rugby Championship while being named OUA Finals MVP.

After graduation from Brock University with a BSc. in Physical Geography, he continued his post-graduate studies at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. While there, Barkwill played for the University of Western Australia in 2009-10 and was selected for the Western Australians Perth Spirit from 2010-2012. In 2011, he also led UWA to a Pindan Grand Finals Premiership, while being named Best & Fairest.

He also played for the Western Force A in 2012 before leaving to tour South America with the Ontario Blues. On that tour, he played against Argentina’s Salta Provincial team and the national teams of both Chile and Uruguay.

Barkwill also represented Ontario Blues from 2008-2016, while winning 5 national championships in a row. He has represented Canada 43 times since 2012, while captaining his national side on numerous occasions. He was a member of the 2015 World Cup team and winner of the prestigious Canadian Shield. In 2016 he played professional rugby for PRO Rugby’s Sacramento Express.

During the 2015 Rugby World Cup, he started the first two matches for Canada against Ireland and Italy , then came off the bench against France. While there, he was voted one of the players with the best beards.

At the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship, he assisted Canada to a third place finish with wins against Uruguay, Brazil and Chile, while losing to both the United States and an Argentina XV side. He also was captain for one of the matches.

In November 9, 2012, he received his first cap for Canada in a loss to Samoa. His 43rd cap came against the USA Eagles in San Diego on July 1, 2017.

Ray Barkwill is currently on tour with the Canada A team at the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo, Uruguay. He saw action as a reserve against Tonga A on Oct. 11 and will start against the USA Selects on Oct. 15 in their concluding match of the series.

Jeff Hull Interview

In an interview with Jeff Hull, Ray Barkwill discussed that “Playing for the Force “A” side is most defiantly was the special moment so far in my rugby career. My impressions of this level are of the positive feedback of how you are doing and what to improve on. Also, on how much attention to detail and objectives there are in training; whether at the breakdowns or running angles, etc.

There is also the understanding of what it takes to train everyday in a professional environment and how to be successful in doing it that. At the end of the day, the true professionals (some being Wallabies) help with you to improve your game, whether it’s mental or technical and that’s something I value every day I go to practice and really enjoy.”

While playing for the Western Force “A”, Ray was noticed by Canada National team head coach Kieran Crawley and he received his first cap shortly after.

Ray Barkwill Comments

Ray Barkwill commented to DJCoil Rugby that “I am just really excited to be apart of a really good club and community in Seattle. It wasn’t a tough decision, as they really have a great group of leaders in this organization from the club team to the pro team.”

Seattle Seawolves Release

Seattle, October 10, 2017: The Seattle Seawolves Rugby are glad to announce the inclusion of Ray Barkwill into their ranks. Former Canadian national Rugby team captain and 5 times national champion joins Seattle’s official Major League Rugby team. “We are fortunate to have a player and a man of Ray’s caliber. He is an uncompromising player who leads from the front. His experience, leadership, and ability to transmit his qualities to the service of the team will benefit the Seawolves for this coming season and beyond”, said Tony Healy, the head coach of Seattle Seawolves Rugby. Having spent a lot of playing time in Australia and Canada, Barkwill is excited about the American challenge. “Seattle is a perfect place for Rugby and has some really passionate fans. I can’t wait to get down to the field with the boys and make them proud,” said Ray Barkwill at the time of announcement.

Having spent a lot of playing time in Australia and Canada, Barkwill is excited about the American challenge. “Seattle is a perfect place for Rugby and has some really passionate fans. I can’t wait to get down to the field with the boys and make them proud,” said Ray Barkwill at the time of announcement.

We are proud to welcome Ray Barkwill to the Seawolves family.

More about the Seattle Seawolves:

The Seawolves are proud to be Seattle’s Major League Rugby franchise. With an ownership group led by Seattle-based entrepreneur’s Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner, the club was formed in 2017 and is a founding member of Major League Rugby. The inaugural season kicks off in Spring 2018 and the venue will be Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.