At the beginning of March 2024, a groundbreaking partnership was formalized between MACDOWELLRUGBY and Robin MacDowell’s Talent ID Network, and Rugby Manitoba. This newly established and first-of-its-kind arrangement sees MacDowell provide training and talent ID opportunities to all age-grade levels of players coming through Manitoba’s ranks.  Since the announcement was first made public last month, excitement has been building as rugby folks coast to coast watch with great interest.  Robin MacDowell – with his vast coaching experience, academy expertise, and gift for talent identi ..read more

Following a successful period of growth in 2023 for the MACDOWELLRUGBY Academies, founder and head coach Robin MacDowell is delighted to announce the Program's first ever global 7s world tour.  For over 15 years, MacDowell has been finding and developing talent throughout Canada and the world over. His track record of finding and harnessing raw talent continues to be proven as MacDowell athletes repeatedly shine on the world stage.  MacDowell credits all those invested in the program for its success, including his talented coaching and administrative staff. “Our Academy staff is comm ..read more

Robin MacDowell is proud to announce that Saskatchewan’s Carissa Norsten and Krissy Scurflield of Alberta have been named the inaugural MACDOWELLRUGBY Inspire Ambassadors. As talented up-and-coming rugby stars, Krissy and Carissa were named to the Rugby Canada Sevens team who competed in Australia at the January 26-28 HSBC SVNS event. Carissa Norsten discovered her love of rugby while attending the MACDOWELLRUGBY Prairie Academy. She represented Saskatchewan before moving to Vancouver Island in 2019 to pursue her goal of playing for Canada. Part of her path to Rugby Sevens has included spendi ..read more

photo provided by: joellestacyphotography Gilbert Rugby Canada is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with MACDOWELL RUGBY, as the two organizations join forces to launch a new team kit. This exciting collaboration signifies a major step forward for both entities, bringing together the excellence of Gilbert Rugby Canada's sports gear with the outstanding athletes nurtured by MACDOWELLRUGBY. The inaugural appearance of the team kit will be on the MacDowell Elite Women’s Team at the highly anticipated Tropical 7s Rugby Tournament in Tampa, Florida, scheduled for March 29 - 30 ..read more

The Accelerate Fund was established in 2022 by the Canadian Rugby Foundation to raise and invest funds to support Rugby Canada’s women’s age grade teams and programs, which include U18, U20 and U23. These programs develop young up-and coming athletes and coaches through a coordinated national pathway towards Sevens and 15s national programs in close collaboration with communities, clubs, schools, universities and provincial unions. The goal: Invest in the future of women's Rugby in Canada by raising $2 Million dollars by 2025. The Accelerate fund would alleviate the heavy financial burden on t ..read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MacDowell Rugby and Thunder Rugby Announce New Partnership Robin MacDowell, along with Director of Thunder Rugby, John Lyall and Rugby Canada legend Phil Mack are pleased to announce their new partnership, commencing May 7, 2021. Robin MacDowell is proud and honoured to partner with the team at Thunder Rugby to continue to grow the game in Indigenous communities. MacDowell and Thunder Rugby share the values of rugby. Along with a common vision and passion to share the values with underserved communities, instilling young players with the ethos that rugby carries with it ..read more

If you asked people in Canada where the rugby hotbed existed, there would inevitably be a lively debate as to whether the clear answer is Toronto or Victoria. One is home to Rugby Canada, weather more conducive to year-round play, and an active community; the other is home to a burgeoning provincial league, a professional team in the Toronto Arrows, and growing academies. Both have active university rugby. But how many engaging in such a debate would argue that the hotbed is actually in Saskatchewan? As unlikely as it seems, Saskatchewan is where so many exemplary future stars of rugby call h ..read more

MacDowellRugby Elite VII and supporters after winning the Edmonton Rugby Fest 7s Tournament in Edmonton, AB. Coming off of their win at the Ryback 7's in Regina, MacDowellRugby entered a team into the Edmonton Rugby Fest 7's elite division over the May long weekend. The team was comprised this time around of not only Sask players, but a mix of athletes from across the country (and in one case, Mexico City) that have trained with or have been coached by Robin MacDowell. Straight off of a long day's drive (9 hours for the Sask group and 14 for the BC group), the team fought hard their first gam ..read more

February 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ,MACDOWELLRUGBY RECEIVES TORONTO ARROWS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT NETWORK DESIGNATION ,TORONTO, ON – MacDowellRugby is proud to announce that its Academy has been designated as a Toronto Arrows Player Development Network organization. The Toronto Arrows Player Development Network recognizes specialized player development programs across Canada that create supportive and challenging environments that foster player and coach development, allowing individuals to develop into elite-level performers and promote core values such as accountability, work ethic and respons ..read more

,FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ,Robin MacDowell Announces ,Canadian Rugby Talent ID Network February, 2023. Dream. Believe. Succeed. Robin MacDowell is proud to announce his newest Rugby venture: The Canadian Rugby Talent ID Network in partnership with High Five Rugby and celebrated Coach Sandro Fiorino. MacDowell formed the Rugby Talent ID Network with an eye to bridging the gap between talented players and the pathways that may be inaccessible to them for a variety of reasons, and partnered with Fiorino to be able to reach those athletes coast to coast. Knowing there are athletes coast to coast cha ..read more