An Okotoks rugby player will play with Canada’s men’s sevens team in Dubai over the next few days.
Thomas Isherwood is originally from England but moved to Okotoks just over ten years ago and played with the Foothills Lions Rugby Football Club.
He says it’s been quite a journey.
“I grew up in England so rugby was in my family, my dad played, my uncle played, my grandfather played, my cousins played so it runs in the family,” he says. “
Isherwood says when he started Okotoks only had one adult team, so he started in Calgary and when he was 13, Foothills started a youth program at Foothills and since he was 11 or 12 he has been pitching for the Lions.
He says there’s a real family culture in Okotoks, High River and the foothills and having such a tight-knit community really helps.
“I played with a lot of the same players growing up and won a couple of city championships since we were together and some really phenomenal coaching helped along the way.”
Thomas Isherwood playing for Team Canada (photo courtesy of Rugby Canada)Isherwood says he made the team, at least in part because of his performance at the World Cup in Hong Kong.
“I saw my opportunity to cement a starting place and I took it and I got a lot of playing time. I’ve been playing rugby since I was three so it’s something that I love that comes naturally to me and to be on the world stage representing my country, my family my friends, and when I play I wear my heart on my sleeve, I love representing everyone.”
Canada will face the USA, Samoa and Japan over the next few days before traveling to Cape Town, South Africa for another tournament.
He is looking forward to his first game against the United States because he knows many of his team’s players and bragging rights are always on the line.