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Ryan Kotlewski is a cup champion – in Australia. The tighthead prop ended his season with the Canberra Royals last weekend in style, defeating the Tuggeranong Vikings 21-17 to win the John I Dent Cup, a trophy first contested in 1938 that is awarded to the winners of the grand final of the Australian Capital Territories (ACT) premier club division. The ACT is the home of the Brumbies, two-time champions of Super Rugby, who are also based out of the nation’s capital.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a standout season with the Wolf Pack in the 2014 Canadian Rugby Championship before being invited to train with Canada ‘A’ during their Americas Rugby Championship campaign in November. While he did not play in that competition, he was called up once again to take part in the Pacific Challenge in March, where he saw significant playing time and impressed as part of a dominant Canadian pack.
This was the first grand final victory for the Royals since 1991, with the competition largely dominated by Tuggeranong in recent years. The Royals are coached by Wayne Southwell, who spent two seasons as Director of Rugby at Calgary Saints, returning to Canberra this year on a two-year contract. Prior to his time in Canada, Southwell had been at the helm of local rivals Queanbeyan, winning grand finals in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
A number of Super Rugby veterans participated in the match, including hooker Siliva Siliva, second row Tom Staniforth, back row Jarrad Butler, and outside backs Nigel Ah Wong, Francis Fainifo, and Lausi’i Taliauli. Wallabies squad member Christian Leali’ifano lined up at fullback for the Vikings, scoring 12 points, but it was not enough to secure the win.
