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One of Canada’s top prospects has put pen to paper with French Top 14 club Montpellier. Men’s u20 standout Tyler Duguid has signed a two-year academy contract and will join his new team at the end of the month with training set to begin on July 1.
Having spent the past season in France with Narbonne’s academy program, Duguid will qualify as a JIFF player upon completion of the new deal. The designation is important in France as it will allow him to be classified as a local at the pro level. French rugby has strict limitations on import players.
Duguid has played both prop and lock for Canada’s age grade sides but will now concentrate exclusively on the second row. The 19-year-old has grown two inches (5cm) in the past year and now stands nearly 6’7″ (2.00m) while tipping the scales at an impressive 273lbs (124kg).
Height and rugby ability is prevalent in Duguid’s family. His uncles are former Canada locks and professional players John and Luke Tait. Older brother Kaden toured Ireland with Canada u19 in 2018 and is now a 6’7″ (2.01m) lock for the Pacific Pride. Sister Abby made the jump from the u20s straight into the Senior Women’s team for their 2018 UK tour.
Rugby isn’t the only sport where Duguid has found success. He competed at the junior provincial level in discus, spent a season playing football for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, and was the 130kg junior national champion in Greco-Roman wrestling in 2019.
Hailing from Edmonton, Duguid played for the Nor’Westers club before moving abroad. He spent the summer of 2018 playing for New Brighton in Christchurch, New Zealand, alongside Canada u20 flyhalf Brock Webster. The pair also trained with the Crusaders International High Performance Unit.
Currently in the Montpellier academy is Canada u20 back row Albert Dwan. The 19-year-old is English-born but eligible for both Canada and Ireland. There are two more prospects at Stade Français in Paris where lock or blindside flanker Quentin James and scrumhalf Will Percillier are based. Front rower Mehdi Porchet is with Pro D2 side Oyonnax. Midfielder Ciaran Breen has left the Biarritz academy and will join the UBC Thunderbirds.
Senior internationals Matt Tierney and Tyler Ardron will play for Castres in the Top 14 this season. Evan Olmstead is in the Pro D2 at Biarritz, with Matt Beukeboom at Montauban and Shane O’Leary moving to Rouen. Taylor Paris is currently out of contract but hopes to stay in France after leaving Castres.
