The Toronto Arrows re-signed Ben LeSage for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old center is 6’0″ and 216 lbs.
Ben started all five matches in his debut season with the club, carrying 19 times for 162 carry meters, making 37 tackles (84.1% completion), and adding three offloads, two linebreaks, and a tackle break throughout the truncated 2020 season.
Ben was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and went to Dr. E.P. Scarlett High where he played football and was a member of the swim team. In his senior year, the football team won the Division 3 football championship. Since his high school did not have rugby, he played at Henry Wise Wood High School and helped the team win three rugby city championships. He also played youth rugby for the Calgary Canucks.
After high school, Ben attended the University of British Columbia from 2013-2019 where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering. He was an Academic All-Canadian & Dean’s Honour List for his final two years at the university.
Ben also played rugby for the UBC Thunderbirds with the team winning three Rounsfell Cups and in 2019 was nominated for the most outstanding graduating male athlete. He also spent time playing rugby in New Zealand after his first year at UBC.
Ben also played age-grade rugby for Canada. He toured with the U18s in 2013 and played for the U20s at the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Hong Kong in 2014.
He made his debut for the Canada Senior Men’s National Team on November 19, 2016, against Romania in Bucharest and the last of his 16 tests (15 starts) was against Italy at Fukuoka on September 26, 2019.
Ben also played club rugby for the Calgary Canucks and provincial rugby for the Prairie Wolf Pack since 2017.
When not playing rugby, Ben may be seen cycling.