When you are a fan of a particular sport it is always great, as a journalist, when you get to interview a player from that sport.
Such was the case recently when I caught up with Ben LeSage for a chat about rugby.
LeSage,who was born in Calgary, currently plays centre of the Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby, and plays for Canada on the international team including the 聽2019 Rugby World Cup which was held in Japan for the first time.
While most boys on the Canadian Prairies still gravitate to hockey, baseball and football, LeSage, 25, said he started playing rugby at a young age.
鈥淩ugby sort of runs in the family,鈥� he said in a telephone interview from Atlanta where the Arrows are playing this season do to COVID-19 issues crossing the border. He explained his grandfather had been a driving force in the Barrie Rugby Club in Ontario, and his father played too. 鈥淚 was put into rugby at eight, or nine years old.鈥�
It might have been genetics that gave him his start in the game, but it also proved a good fit.
鈥淚 grew up definitely loving rugby,鈥� he said, even as he explored hockey, soccer and football as a youth.
After graduating, LeSage enrolled at the University of British Columbia where he gravitated to the rugby pitch.
鈥淚 just sort of showed up asking to play,鈥� he said.
LeSage not only played, he exceled, playing not just college but for Canada too. He made his international debut for Canada against in November 2016.
At the time LeSage said he didn鈥檛 exactly see rugby as a career path since the MLR had not yet launched, but he did have a spot on Team Canada for the World Championships in Japan as a goal thinking 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 that be great.鈥�
Things changed with the creation of MLR, a league that LeSage looks at as 鈥渧itally important鈥� for the growth of the game in Canada and the development of talent for the national team. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that surprises anybody. It (the MLR) builds depth.鈥�
LeSage said in the past Canada would have five or six players who might be looked at as elite.
鈥淭he rest kind of had domestic jobs and played rugby on the side,鈥� so if an elite player was hurt, the depth wasn鈥檛 there to fill the hole, he said.
The MLR, and in particular the Arrows, where the majority of the roster is Canadian, has players getting invaluable experience to become better rugby players.
And, scattered around the league are players already shining. LeSage is co-captain of the Arrows beside fellow Canuck Lucas Rumble.
Other Canadians to be named Captains on their teams include the New England Free Jacks, with Josh Larsen, Rugby ATL with Matt Heaton, and Kyle Baillie with NOLA Gold.
Overall, the level of play in the MLR is getting better as it goes which helps too, noted LeSage.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 definitely come a long way,鈥� he said, adding it might not match the intensity of international test matches, but it is getting close to other pro leagues around the world. He added you only need to look at MLR rosters to see a growing list of international players who have played for their countries to appreciate the talent 小蓝视频 attracted.
As for the Arrows, it is an interesting season playing home games in Atlanta, which LeSage said immerses players in the game so 鈥渋t鈥檚 almost hard to escape the game ... It鈥檚 rugby almost 24/7.鈥� That can be good for team building and working on things for games, but there are times 小蓝视频 able to get away from teammates and the sport is good over a long season too.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more challenging to be on the road all the time. It鈥檚 mentally tougher to just disconnect ... You don鈥檛 have that network of people outside rugby.鈥�
On the field it鈥檚 tough too, with every team 小蓝视频 a challenge, a challenge that the arrows have met at times this season, and at others have faltered in meeting.
鈥淚t goes back to the quality of the league, any given weekend you鈥檙e not surprised on team beats another,鈥� said LeSage.
While confident the Arrows will be in the mix come playoff time, LeSage also has goals with the Canadian National Team, starting with qualifying for the next World Cup, which would have the team playing in France in 2023.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of work to do,鈥� offered LeSage, adding the team will give it their best to be there.
