Toronto Arrows Signs Nik Hildebrand

The Toronto Arrows signed Canadian prop Nik Hildebrand for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 27-year-old prop, who can play both tight head and loose head, is 6’1” and 240 lbs.

Nik is returning to MLR after taking a year’s sabbatical from the professional game to focus on rest, recovery, and completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management at Camosun College. He previously spent the 2021 season with the Houston SaberCats and joins the Arrows after playing with Burnaby Lake in the British Columbia Premier League.

In 2021 he played in 12 matches, starting 4, with the SaberCats, carrying 27 times for 134 meters, making 33 tackles (91.7% completion), and having 68 ruck arrivals.

Nik signed with the SaberCats for the 2020 MLR season, however, his visa was approved the day that the league announced it was ending the season due to COVID-19.

Nik is from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, and attended Shawnigan Lake School. While in 10th grade, he played rugby for the British Columbia U18s and U19s. He also played basketball and hockey in high school before graduating in 2013.

Nik then spent a year at Cardiff University and played rugby on their first XV. He then returned to Canada and was part of the Canada U20 trials, but was not selected for the final squad. He then played Junior football for Victoria Island Raiders before joining Burnaby Rugby Football Club in 2016 where he played in the BC Premier League, as well as for the BC Bears in the Summer.

In 2017 he traveled to Auckland, New Zealand, and played for the College Rifles. He then returned to Ireland, and his Irish mother’s roots to play for Garryowen and won the Munster Cup.

In 2018 he returned to play for Burnaby, as well as the BC Bears during the Summer. In the 2019-2020 season, he played for the Rugby Canada Academy side, the Pacific Pride, and joined the Houston SaberCats in November ahead of the 2021 MLR season.