Tyler Leggatt (Upright Rugby Lead Director):  I have been playing and coaching for 25 yrs both in high school and at the club, provincial and varsity level.  I began playing locally as a junior at the Hamilton Hornets and moved on to play at Stoney Creek, University of Sydney (NSW), and Eastern Suburbs (NSW), before eventually landing at the Oakville Crusaders.  I have been affiliated with the Cru for over 10 yrs and was fortunate to be recognized by both my peers and coaching staff throughout my playing career there.  In my time as an active player, I won:  Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, Player of the Year, and the Captain's Award for dedication and commitment.

 

I was one of the founding players of the Super League team, the Niagara Thunder, and an active player within the RCSL for three years.  During that time, I also represented Ontario Sr Men's team for two seasons.  More recently, I competed for Canada as member of the Canadian Classics, Over-35 team.  I was fortunate to participate in three World Rugby Championships in Bermuda between 2007 and 2011.

 

As a coach, I have been involved with the Oakville Crusaders, McMaster Men's Varsity team as an assistant coach through three provincial titles, and more recently, a head coach with the Ontario Jr Blues program, and help win a national championship in 2010.

 

 

Certification:

 

7's Certified Coach:  Intro to Comp (Level 1)

 

NCCP Level Two:  Intro to Competition

Qualified Learning Facilitator for Rugby Canada

Mark Smerdon (Jr. Men's Academy):  Mark is the current Director of Rugby the Mississauga Blues RFC.  He brings a wealth of experience both as a player and as a coach to our academy.  His playing days began our east with the esteemed Swilers RFC.  Upon moving to the Toronto area, Mark began his Ontario career with U of T while completing his degree in education and then later playing club rugby for the Toronto Saracens.

 

Mark brings more than 25 yrs of coaching experience to our sessions and is one of the few people responsible for establishing the highly successful Mississauga Blues.  More recently, Mark has added coaching the Ontario U15 Jr Blues to his resume and will likely return next summer to assist with the U16s.

 

Certification:

 

Learning Facilitator for Rugby Canada; IRB 7's Level One

 

Trained NCCP Coach- Intro to Competition

Certified NCCP Level 3- Technical completed

Brooke Hilditch: 

 

After a highly successful, and well-decorated rugby career at the national level both as a 15s and 7s player, Brooke Hilditch is quickly becoming one of Canada's bright young coaches.  She is is head coach at Erindale High School where she teaches phys-ed; and continues to play rugby in the summers with the York Yeo-women. 

 

Junior Women's Head Coach to Ontario Regional Pathways to Performance Program (Niagara)

 

Intro to Competition (Level Two Certification);

Clayton Gillis:

 

Nelson High School class of 96

 

University of Guelph Gryphons 97-01

 

Club rugby with Burlington Centaurs, Cru and most recently Stoney Creek

 

Coach at Saltfleet Secondary School 2003 til present

 

Coached Saltfleet OFSAA gold medal in 2005

 

Current Head Coach in Rugby Ontario Highway to High Performance 7's Program (Niagara Region)

Steve Piatek

 

Coaching Experience:  Brantford Harlequins, St. John's College (Brantford)

 

Playing Experience: Canada Selects, Canada Age Grade, Ontario Blues

 

Hometown: Brantford

 

Club: Brantford Harlequins

 

Coaching Specialty: passing & kicking

 

Proudest Coaching Moment: Coaching a team to be undefeated two consecutive years

 

Proudest Playing Moment: Hitting the winning kick versus USA A in extra time

Andrew Ferguson

 

Second year Psychology student at McMaster University. Scrumhalf for the Marauders, winning the 2010 OUA championship and Individual Rookie of the year awards.

 

Rugby Ontario representative since 2007 including the Ontario Blues Sr Men`s from 2010-Present. Gold and a silver medal at Nationals, as well as gold medal in the 2009 Canada Summer Games. 

 

Represented Canada U-20 at the 2011 Junior World Trophy in Tbilisi, Georgia.

 

Coach with Upright Rugby Canada since 2011, providing assistance in summer camps, as well as in winter academy sessions. 

 

``My goal as a coach is to provide a competitive environment, in which challenges individuals to expand their rugby skill, both mentally and physically.``