Forward Barnaby Waddell is shown during the anthems where he made his rugby debut for Canada in a 31-21 loss to Romania, in Bucharest in a Nov. 8, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Rugby Canada, Maxine Oleary (Mandatory Credit)

By The Canadian Press

English-born forward Barnaby Waddell delighted to be playing rugby for Canada

Nov 21, 2025 | 6:23 PM

It’s been a good month for Barnaby Waddell.

The English-born rugby forward scored on debut for Canada, powering his way over for an 82nd-minute try in a 31-21 loss to No. 21 Romania on Nov. 8, then started a week later in the 38-17 loss to No. 11 Georgia.

The six-foot-four, 265-pounder is still buzzing about pulling on the Canadian jersey.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “All the boys have been welcoming … Playing for Canada, it was amazing. And to top it off with a try, I couldn’t have asked for a better debut.”

Canada coach Stephen Meehan called Waddell’s try “good reward” for his hard work in recent months.

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Meehan said Waddell was battling injuries last season when he first started watching him play, so probably wasn’t at his best. But the big lock caught Meehan’s eye in 2025.

“Having watched what he’s delivered so far this year, we were really happy to invite him into the camp and he trained really well,” said Meehan.

Waddell’s performance off the bench earned him the start against Georgia.

“And he went into the (Romania) game at an important moment for us, as well,” said Meehan. “So the try’s just a little bit of icing on the cake for somebody making their debut.”

The 23-year-old Waddell qualifies for Canada via his grandmother, who was born and raised on Vancouver Island. She eventually left for England but opted to return and Waddell’s father was raised there.

Waddell visited Canada for the first time last year, spending a month training with the national team in Langford, B.C.

“I ended up seeing lots of family, friends, I had never seen before in my entire life,” he enthused. “They had pictures on my family when they were younger and all that. It’s crazy how you’ve got some friends on the other side of the world that seem to know your family almost better than you do. It was a really good experience.”

Back home, his family is “over the moon” at his Canadian adventure, he said.

Waddell, who plays his club rugby for Bridgend Ravens in Wales’ second-tier Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC), was originally slated to join up with a touring Canadian under-20 squad several years ago — only to see the trip called off due to the pandemic.

He remained in touch with team officials and some of the players.

He graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University with both a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science and a master’s in sport psychology. Jamin Hodgkins, who had been called up by Canada, was also attending Cardiff Met and referred Waddell to Rugby Canada.

Waddell was born in London but moved to Devon in southwest England with his family when he was young. He played club rugby for Okehampton RFC before joining the Exeter Chiefs academy.

After a string of injuries, including surgery to repair a shoulder that had been dislocated three times, he started school at Cardiff Met.

Waddell has represented England Universities, playing against France Universities, and trained with the top-tier Ospreys senior squad in Wales.

Away from rugby, he works full time for a recruitment agency. And while he has enjoyed the job, it has made him long for something else.

“I have realized, more so now than ever, that being a professional rugby player is what I want to do,” he said.

The 24th-ranked Canadians wrap up their European tour on Saturday against No. 20 Portugal.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press