Takoda McMullin
| Born | 2001 or 2002 (age 24–25)[1] White Rock, British Columbia, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Earl Marriott Secondary School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of British Columbia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Talon McMullin (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Takoda McMullin (born c. 2001/2002) is a Canadian rugby union player who plays for the UBC Thunderbirds in the British Columbia Premier League, and the Canada national team. McMullin's primary position is fullback, and has been deployed across the outside back positions.
Early life
Takoda McMullin was born in the early 2000s in White Rock, British Columbia.[3] Takoda was raised in White Rock and Surrey, British Columbia alongside twin brother Talon.[3] Both Takoda and Talon were educated at Earl Marriott Secondary School in Surrey, Vancouver Metro Area.[4][5] The two excelled for the schools volleyball team, the Mariners, with Takoda being named to the first all-star team.[4]
Career
McMullin began his career with the UBC Thunderbirds in the British Columbia Premier League in 2020.[5] He joined the schools rugby program after gradutaing from the Earl Marriott Secondary School alongside brother Talon, and future Canada international teammate Izzak Kelly.[6]
International career
U20s and Sevens
In 2021, McMullin was selected in a under-20 camp trial,[7] having previously been a member of a Canada U18s camp in 2018.[8] McMullin was later named in Canada U20s final 28-man roster for the 2022 U20 International Series for August.[3] McMullin made his under-20 debut on the wing against Zimbabwe U20s,[9] held at the University of Guelph in Ontario.[10] Canada U20s lost 24–32.[11]
In January 2026, McMullin, who had five senior international caps with Canada, was scheduled to make his rugby sevens debut for Canada in the SVNS 3 tournament in Dubai with the hope of winning promotion to SVNS 2.[12] McMullin made his international sevens debut against Italy in a 33–7 win.[13][14] Canada went on to win the tournament and gain promotion to SVNS 2 for 2027.[15]
Canada
In early October 2022, McMullin was named in Canada A's squad ahead of their three-match series in the Americas Rugby Trophy (ART),[16] a minor developmental tournament featuring Canada A, Brazil A, and Chile A.[17] McMullin was named as Canada's starting outside centre later in the month in Canada's match against Brazil A, alongside brother Talon at inside centre.[18] Canada won 31–14 in Mogi das Cruzes.[19]
McMullin was named in Canada's matchday squad for their Test match against Scotland in the 2024 Summer Internationals at TD Place Stadium, Ottawa.[20] McMullin made his international debut for Canada in the 57th minute,[21] replacing right-wing Andrew Coe.[21] Canada lost 12–73.[22] McMullin was officially named Canada's 500th international player.[23] He made another appearance in the second Test against Romania. Canada won 35–22.[24]
The following month, McMullin was named in Canada's squad for the inaugural edition of the revamped Pacific Nations Cup (PNC),[25] a new Americas/Oceania/Pacific Rugby World Cup qualification tournament featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and the United States.[26] McMullin played in all three of Canada's matches,[27] scoring in their opening match against Japan alongside brother Talon.[28] Canada lost all of their matches.
In June 2026, McMullin was named in Canada's squad for their opening matches in the newly established Nations Cup tournament.[29] In their first Test against Spain, McMullin scored his first international points for Canada from the tee,[27] kicking an 84th minute conversion goal in a 42-all draw at Clarke Stadium, Edmonton.[30] The match surpassed England and Scotland's 38-all draw for the highest-scoring draw in Test rugby.[31]
References
- ↑ Newcombe, Jon (29 August 2024). "At the double: McMullin twins join select group". RugbyPass.
Identical twins are a commentator's nightmare but, thankfully, Takoda distinguishes himself from Talon by wearing a blue scrum cap. The 22-year-olds with only a handful of caps between them look set for long Test careers judging by the impact they have made since debuting in July.
- 1 2 "Takoda McMullin | RugbyPass". RugbyPass.
- 1 2 3 "BC Athletes Make Squad For Upcoming U20 Canada Conference 2022". bcrugby.com. British Columbia Rugby Union. 2022.
Born and raised in White Rock, BC, brothers and multi-sport athletes Talon and Takoda McMullin are part of the roster, as is Lucas Schek, who has featured for Canada's Senior Men's Sevens program. Current Pacific Pride players Bruce, Jack East, Mathew Klimchuk and Tyler Matchem are also on the squad.
- 1 2 Ewen, Steve (6 December 2019). "High school notebook: Multi-sport Mariners net volleyball crown while showcasing versatility". The Province. Postmedia Network.
- 1 2 "2025–26 Men's Rugby Roster | Takoda McMullin". gothunderbirds.ca. UBC Thunderbirds.
- ↑ Johnston, Patrick (23 August 2024). "How one Surrey school put four players on Rugby Canada's squad vs. Japan". The Province. Postmedia Network.
- ↑ "Canada U20 – August 2021". bcrugbynews.com. British Columbia Rugby Union. 28 August 2021.
- ↑ Kelly, Bryan (13 November 2018). "Curran names Canada U18 Red & White Rosters". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada.
- ↑ "Eight BC Athletes In Canada U20 Team vs. Zimbabwe". bcrugbynews.com. British Columbia Rugby Union.
- ↑ "Rugby Canada to host U20s Canada Conference 2022 at the University of Guelph this August". world.rugby. World Rugby. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ "Canada's Men's U20s fall to Zimbabwe in opening U20s Canada Conference fixture". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. 13 August 2022.
- ↑ Davidson, Neil (15 January 2026). "Canadian men look to continue their climb back up the rugby sevens ladder in Dubai". Toronto Star.
Josiah Morra returns to the sevens program for the first time since the 2024 RAN Sevens after focusing on 15s play with the MLR's New England Free Jacks and Canada. Takoda McMullin, who has five caps with the Canadian 15s squad, is in line to make his Canada sevens debut.
- ↑ @rugbycanada; (18 January 2026). "Congratulations to Takoda McMullin who made his international sevens debut this weekend at HSBC SVNS 3 in Dubai 🇨🇦🧢
***
Félicitations à Takoda McMullin qui a fait ses débuts internationaux en rugby à sept ce week-end à Dubaï dans la Division 3 des HSBC SVNS 🇨🇦🧢" – via Instagram. - ↑ "Canada 7s vs Italy 7s | Men's Sevens Series 2026". world.rugby. World Rugby.
- ↑ "South Africa and Canada claim HSBC SVNS 3 titles in Dubai". svns.com. World Rugby. 19 January 2026.
- ↑ "Canadian Men's squad named for Brazil tour". americasrugbynews.com. Americas Rugby News. 7 October 2022.
- ↑ "Canada 'A' loses ill-disciplined Americas Rugby Trophy match to Chile XV in Brazil". The Globe and Mail. 21 October 2022.
The match at Municipal Stadium Francisco Ribeiro Nogueira in Mogi das Cruzes, about 65 kilometres east of Sao Paulo, is the first of two for Canada at the new Americas Rugby Trophy. Canada takes on Brazil on Oct. 26 in the three-country developmental tournament, which does not carry test status.
- ↑ Davidson, Neil (25 October 2022). "Canada coach looks to his youth for Americas Rugby Trophy match against Brazil 'A'". Times Colonist.
Talon McMullin is an inside centre while Takoda plays outside centre.
- ↑ "Canada ends Brazil tour on a winning note". americasrugbynews.com. Americas Rugby News. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ "Match day roster taking on Scotland in Ottawa named for Canada's Men's Rugby Team". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. 3 July 2024.
- 1 2 "Match Report | Canada 12–73 Scotland, 06/07/2024". all.rugby. All Rugby.
- ↑ "Young Scottish side shows its class in 73–12 rugby win over Canadian men". Toronto Star. 6 July 2024.
- ↑ Davidson, Neil (10 July 2024). "Canadian men's rugby team continues learning curve as it hosts physical Romania". The Globe and Mail.
Nic Benn, Brock Gallagher, James Stockwood, Jesse Mackail and twins Talon and Takoda McMullin all made their Canada debut against Scotland with Benn starting and the other five coming in off the bench. Takoda McMullin became the 500th men's player to earn a cap for Canada.
- ↑ "Canada's Men's Rugby Team wins 35–22 over Romania in Ottawa". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. 12 July 2024.
- ↑ "Four new names in Canada squad for Pacific Nations Cup". americasrugbynews.com. 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024.
- ↑ "World Rugby confirms new international men's competition to launch in 2024". world.rugby. World Rugby. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023.
- 1 2 "Takoda McMullin: Stats – All Rugby". all.rugby. All Rugby.
- ↑ Karstens-Smith, Gemma (25 August 2024). "Japan thrashes Canada 55–28 to open Pacific Nations Cup". CBC.
- ↑ "Canada's Men's Rugby Team 2026 Nations Cup Squad Announced". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "Canada and Spain Play out a Classic in Edmonton". americasrugbynews.com. Americas Rugby News. 5 July 2026.
- ↑ Newcombe, John (5 July 2026). "World Rankings record equalled as Scotland overtake oldest rival". RugbyPass.
Samoa will go from 20th to 18th, thanks to a 66–19 win over first time Men's Rugby World Cup qualifiers Hong Kong China, while Canada's 42–42 draw against Spain – the highest-scoring draw in Test rugby – will be enough to lift them up from 25th to 23rd.