Ray Barkwill was born in Niagara Falls Ontario, taking up rugby in high school as a hooker while playing for the Niagara Wasps RFC senior men’s team through his summers. He made the Niagara Thunder regional team that competed in the Junior Rugby-Canadian Super League many times. At the age of 25, Ray completed his post secondary education in Physical Geography at Brock University in St. Catherine’s, Ont. Where he was both captain and MVP for finals leading the university’s rugby team to its 1st OUA (Ontario University Athletics) rugby championships in 2007. Ray ventured to Perth Australia to complete his post graduate studies by 2010, focusing on teaching skill sets. While down under, he played for the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth for 36 caps from 2009-2010, then represented Western Australia for 12 caps in regional action from 2010-2012. Ray was the first Canadian player to be selected for Super Rugby Union in 2012 with professional team Western Force out of Perth with 8 caps. He moved back to Canada in 2012, after completing his education, and catching the eye of Rugby Canada (RC). He debuted for his 1st cap for Canada verses Samoa in Nov 2012 in Wales at the age of 32. Earning 56 caps in total, with 44 starts as Hooker, scoring 5 tries before playing in his last game for RC by winning the RWC 2019 qualifier verses Hong Kong in France in Nov 2018. He was a member of the 2015 RWC in England as a player, and Captain for 2 games, before winning the RC Shield award for Most Inspirational Player in 2017. During these years he was also a member of the Ontario Blues in the Canadian Rugby Championships (CRC) from 2012-2018 for 34 caps and scoring 8 tries winning 3 CRC Mactier Cups. In 2015 he moved to Victoria, BC to continue his training with RC, while suiting up for Castaway Wanders for club level play. Ray for the 2nd time in his playing career signed for professional action with the Seattle Sea wolves for the inaugural Major Rugby League (MLR) action, winning back to back MLR Championships for 2018-2019. He signed with the Toronto Arrows before retiring from playing in Apr 2019. Ray next stepped into the coaching stage next as the Canada U18 Boys head Coach for a 3 game international series in Spring 2019, before assisting RC RWC 2019 team as an assistant coach. Ray currently is a teacher at Royal Bay High School in Victoria, and is engaged to RC NSWT Captain/Member Laura Russel (who is also a Velox Valkyrie alumni). Westshore RFC is very excited to announce Ray recently joined the Westshore Velox RFC Board of Directors as Director of Men’s Rugby in Jan 2020. Welcome to the family Ray!!
