Brock Staller’s Rugby Journey
Born on March 24th 1992, Brock Staller, is a 29-year-old Canadian rugby player from Surrey, British Columbia. Brock played for the Seattle Seawolves in North America’s Major League Rugby (MLR) for a number of years, winning the league title in both 2018 and 2019. He reached 15 international caps for Canada, starring in several key fixtures including a match against the Maori All Blacks in 2017. Currently, he is the Nanaimo Supervisor at the BC Grassroots Rugby Foundation. So, how did he get to where he is today?
At the young age of 13, Staller got his first taste of rugby when he joined Kitsilano Secondary School’s 8th grade rugby team. His enjoyment for the sport grew as did his opportunities. At 15, Staller was able to play youth rugby with the Meraloma Rugby Club. He continued to play junior rugby, alongside golf and basketball, throughout his last high school years.
Staller and his team raised money for a UK tour in 2010, where they played five games and lost one. The “strong team” and passionate coach Dave Tucker kept him, “motivated to continue on playing rugby”, Staller exclaimed.
In later years, Staller attended Douglas College, in New Westminster, on a golf scholarship. After which, he attended the University of British Columbia, enrolled in the school’s men’s varsity rugby program. When asked about university life, rugby, and studies, he commented, “you just have to have a good balance of things...having an end goal and a why to what you’re doing”. Staller’s why was that he wanted to become a teacher/strength and conditioning coach. His ultimate goal at the time and “motivational drug” was that he “wanted to play for the Canadian team.”
His end goal played out as Staller made his international debut in the Americas Rugby Championship alongside some of his UBC teammates in 2016 and 2017. The university went on to win two consecutive Rounsefell Cups, Staller being the leading points scorer in the BC Rugby Union Men’s Premiership. Not in absence of self-doubt or struggle, Staller questioned whether to continue playing after the 2016 season. Dealing with injuries and not getting selected for teams, Staller was forced to evaluate the chance of realizing his dreams.
Staller’s defining moment occurred during the late hours of the day whilst enjoying a beer. “I got a phone call late at night...from Graeme Moffat”, he continued, “he told me, Brock there’s a game this coming Friday, can you come to Shawnigan?”. His doubts and questioning were put to rest in one phone call when realizing he was “actually going to get a shot at this”.
Although the doubts were subsiding, other challenges lurked around the corner for Staller. He explained that competing at such a high level meant spending “a lot of time spent alone in dark places.” Support and guidance were needed for Staller, his family proving to be a critical support network. “They would support me with whatever it may be. They enabled me to continue on with rugby.” Likewise, his university coaches, Curry Hitchborn and Spence McTavish, were yet another attributed reason he was able to navigate difficult times to ultimately find success.
In 2017, it was declared that Staller would be joining the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby. He played wing alongside Canada’s Phil Mack and Ray Barkwill.
In June of 2021, Brock Staller announced his involvement with the BC Grassroots Rugby Foundation, filling the role of Nanaimo Lead Supervisor. This has given Staller the platform to give the same support, guidance, and opportunity that he experienced throughout his career, back to the community.
Though only being with the foundation for a short time, Staller has already begun to make an impact on the lives of children across Nanaimo and Ladysmith. He has run pop-up and plays at schools and youth camps this past week with his Nanaimo team. With the first week of the foundation's summer camp finished and all the little smiling faces, we are sure to be in for a ride with the change Brock Staller alongside the organization will bring!
