The 2024 campaign was a huge success for the Senior Men’s program. The TRU 1s and 2s both won their respective leagues. The TRU 1s won the Gee Gage cup. The ORU 1s won the McCormick Cup, making the Balmy Beach Rugby Club the most winning-est club in Ontario.
In 2025, the Balmy Beach Rugby Club will be running 4 men’s teams.
3 of our men’s teams play in the Marshal Division of the ORU, and one team will play in the TRU First Division.
The season runs from May until August or September. We practice and play home games at Tubs & Gee Gage Field, in the east end of Toronto.
The Senior Men practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Games are on typically on Saturdays, and you can click here for the Season Schedule.
Men’s Head Coach – Patrick Maulson
Patrick has been a part of the Balmy Beach Rugby program for the last three seasons. In this role he led the Beach “attack” winning TRU I and II championships, two Gee Gage Cups and a McCormick Cup, and a Men’s Ontario Championship. Prior to arriving at Balmy Beach, Patrick had success at both Junior Club and Rugby Ontario programs winning two club U18 provincial championships, and a U18 Eastern National championship with Rugby Ontario.
Overseas Patrick has completed an immersive coaching internship in South Africa, under Head Coach Warren Peterson at the Stellenbosch Rugby Academy now the Western Province Rugby Academy.
Following the impressive accomplishments of previous seasons and rich rugby history of The Beach, Patrick is looking forward to steering The Beach toward a successful 2025 season…and beyond.
Men’s Coach – Sandro Fiorino
One of the top coaches in Canadian Rugby in both 7’s and 15’s, Sandro Fiorino has made a massive impact on the game.
Whether leading the Canadian Women’s 7’s Team to a historic Bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, driving the NSWT 15-a-Side Program, or guiding the Rugby Canada Development Academy (Ontario) in developing Canada’s Next-Gen athletes, Sandro has always had the ability to identify and cultivate talent. As Head Coach of the Canada’s Women’s Under-20 Team, Sandro won back-to-back undefeated Nations Cup Championships in 2013-14, with victories over England, South Africa and USA.
We are delighted to welcome Sandro back to the Beach for a third season!
Men’s Coach – Brian Krawetz
Brian Krawetz has had a long-playing career with appearances for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Nova Scotia provincial teams. Brian also played Rugby Canada Super League for both the Manitoba Buffalo and the Nova Scotia Keltics.
Brian has coached minis, Juniors, and Senior Men and Women. He has coached for both the Manitoba and Nova Scotia Provincial teams. In 2019 he was the scrum coach for the Ontario Blues U19 Men’s team where they won the Canadian Rugby Championships in Saskatoon. His national coaching experience includes being a development coach for the Senior Men’s National Team under Kieran Crowley as well as a development coach with the Canada U18 Men’s team under Head Coach Jim Delaney. He is the current scrum and forwards coach for the University of Toronto Men’s Varsity Blues Rugby Team.
Men’s Coach – Paddy Watson
Paddy Watson coaches at Balmy Beach, University of Toronto, and with Rugby Canada’s U20 Men’s program. He has previously coached with the Toronto Arrows Senior Academy, UBC, the UBC Rugby Academy, Kitsilano Secondary School, and with regional age grade teams. In 2021, he managed the Vancouver Wave team that went undefeated to win the Coastal Cup.
In 2025, Paddy is restarting the rugby program at Branksome Hall with a Senior 7’s program. He has also been working with the Upper Canada College Varsity team since 2023. In 2019, he worked a committee with the Canada Chamber of Commerce in Japan to promote ties and charity initiatives surrounding the Rugby World Cup.
We’re happy to have Paddy back for a third season!
Men’s Coach – Michael Allen
Michael Allen, a former professional rugby player, who represented his hometown club Ulster Rugby a total of 48 times, including two tours with Emerging Ireland, before making the move to URC rivals Edinburgh Rugby where he stayed until his retirement in 2017 at the age of 26.
Following his retirement from rugby, he transitioned into the world of finance and was awarded a place with FTSE100 company, St. James’s Place, and completed their career change program. In the years since he has become an established financial adviser with Tweed Wealth Management, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
While initially distancing himself from rugby after his retirement, his passion for the sport was reignited when he was invited to coach an Under 18 program in Edinburgh. This renewed interest gave him the desire to continue coaching which led to joining Balmy Beach, where he now shares his extensive knowledge and expertise with all players.
Men’s Coach – Shane Cahill
Shane Cahill is a former professional rugby player, having competed in the Aviva Premiership and Championship in the UK. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching, holding strength and conditioning roles in Ireland, England, and North America, including with the Toronto Arrows (MLR).
He is the Director of Education at APEC, where he leads strength and conditioning education programs, and serves as Head of Performance for The Rugby Academy, developing elite-level athletes. Shane is passionate about high-performance training methodologies and specializes in set-piece coaching, which he delivers through The Rugby Academy and Rugby Ontario in Canada.
Men’s Coach – Brian Spanton
Brian Spanton began his BBC rugby career in 1978, as a U18 junior player. He was a member of seven Balmy Beach Senior cup sides, winning two Carling Cups, and five McCormick cups in the 80s. Brian also played for Rugby Canada’s Senior Men’s 7s team and was selected for Canada XV’s Tour to Australia in 1985.
Brian has been a part of TSN’s rugby broadcast team since 1991, covering every Rugby World Cup televised on the network. He has also covered international tournaments and friendlies including the 2014 Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens and the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Brian has coached at both the high school and club level, for Malvern Collegiate Institute and with the Balmy Beach Junior program. Brian has been involved with Beach rugby for over six decades and we are thrilled to welcome him back for his fourth year with our Senior Men’s program.
Strength & Conditioning Coach – Adrian Lightowler
Adrian’s playing career featured stints at Premiership, Championship and All Ireland League sides as well as captaining Ireland at the junior international level. While playing rugby in Ireland, Adrian studied a degree in sport science and business, which led him into his second career as a strength and conditioning coach.
Since retiring from rugby, Adrian has worked in the English Championship (rugby) as a head of strength and conditioning as well as with one of British Tennis’s High-Performance Centres.
As Head S&C Coach and Manager of Fitness and Performance for 13 seasons at the University of Toronto, Adrian has experience with Varsity Athletes in many different sports. He has also worked with elite athletes from MLB, CFL, NHL, Olympians, and recreational clients in the community.
Adrian is looking forward to joining Balmy Beach and working to improve the strength and conditioning of the squad going into the 2025 campaign.