AG Signs Canadian International Lock Reegan O’Gorman

AUSTIN, TX (December 7, 2020) Austin Gilgronis is elated to announce the signing of Canadian lock, Reegan O’Gorman. With the AGs, O’Gorman is looking to prove he can be a regular option in Canada’s forward pack for years to come.

The 24-year-old lock is 6’6” 265lbs and recognized as a rangey ball-winner with a lot of natural ability at the breakdown. Reegan O’Gorman is the son of a former professional rugby player, Pat O’Gorman. The young lock is looking to break into the AGs squad and fine-tune his skills to become a lifelong professional and earn a consistent spot in the Canadian engine room.

AGs head coach Sam Harris sees great potential in Reegan O’Gorman. “Reegan is still relatively early in his progression and learning his craft,” says Harris. “He has been plying his trade in Christchurch for the last couple of years and that shows his willingness to invest in himself, Reegan is a hard worker and destined for big things.”

First, he’ll have to earn playing time in a second-row unit headlined by recently announced AG signee Sebastian de Chaves and local hero Christian Ostberg. “I don’t really see it as a competition, I see it more as an opportunity to learn,” says O’Gorman. “I’m lucky that we have some quality guys like Seb and CEO (Christian Ostberg) on the AGs that I can learn from, so I can get a leg up on other locks in the world.”

The lock’s mindset fits perfectly into his new head coach’s Sam expectation for the young lock. “Reegan has a big frame that is still filling out,” says Sam Harris. “I expect Reegan to continue his journey and learn from our experienced campaigners and surprise people with his aggression.”

In the coming seasons, O’Gorman will have opportunities to go head-to-head against four of the five Canadian locks on RugbyCanada’s Rugby World Cup roster. He’ll also have an opportunity to play in front of Canadian selectors when the AGs take on Toronto Arrows on Canadian soil in 2021.

CANADA RWC LOCKS

Conor Keys - Rugby ATL

Kyle Baille - NOLA Gold

Josh Larsen - New England Freejacks

Mike Sheppard - Toronto Arrows

O’Gorman has been on RugbyCanada’s radar for some time now. He played for the Canadian under 18s and under 20s before suiting up for Canada in the Americas Rugby Championship in 2017. The young lock played in every match of the tournament and got his first start for Canada in an 80-minute performance against USA Eagles and soon to be AG teammates, Will Magie and Bryce Campbell.

O’Gorman overcame two season-ending injuries scattered throughout the last three years. In 2019, the lock shipped off to New Zealand for a season with South Canterbury and was selected to the Heartland team before heading back to a centralized contract with Canada.

The lock agreed to terms on a contract with the Toronto Arrows just before COVID hit and put an end to a 2020 MLR debut. Reegan O’Gorman sees the 2021 season as an opportunity to prove he can compete with the best locks in the world.

Welcome to the AGs, Reegan O’Gorman!