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Kyle Baillie is the latest Canadian international set to take part in PRO Rugby’s inaugural season. The versatile forward is expected to join the Ohio franchise once he receives visa approval. Baillie made his international debut as a replacement against the US Eagles in the recently completed Americas Rugby Championship, and went on to appear in three further matches, including starts against Chile and an uncapped match against the Argentina XV.
Equally comfortable at lock or loose forward, the athletic 24-year-old from Summerside, PEI, has played rugby from coast to coast in Canada. Along with his home side the Mudmen, Baillie has represented both Newfoundland and the Atlantic Rock, the St. Albert club in Alberta, the Castaway Wanderers in BC, and most recently the Halifax Tars in Nova Scotia, with whom he won a Caledonia Cup in 2015.
He was selected for the Canada ‘A’ side for both the 2013 and 2014 editions of the old format ARC, and again for the 2015 Pacific Challenge in Fiji. Following that tournament he stayed in the south, lining up for Eastern Suburbs in the Shute Shield, Australia’s premier club competition in Sydney.
Baillie joins former New Zealand All Black prop Jamie Mackintosh as Ohio’s international imports. Italy ‘A’ flanker Filippo Ferrarini is also on the roster, and Chilean age-grade back row Sebastián Kalm is also in line to play in Columbus. Fellow Canadian internationals Phil Mackenzie, Ray Barkwill, Hubert Buydens, and Nick Blevins have already joined the league, while a sixth – prop Jake Ilnicki – is now in talks for a potential move to San Diego.
