Ontario born BC native Callum Botchar played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 MLR season. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.

Botchar attended the University of British Columbia, playing for the Thunderbirds while majoring in Psychology. He joined the Pacific Pride, Rugby Canada’s development academy, and represented the national U20 side. Botchar is already a test capped Canadian, earning his international debut against the Netherlands in November 2022. He was selected for a test against Tonga in the summer of 2023 but was a late scratch. That year, Botchar also travelled to New Zealand to play with the Taranaki Men’s Development system, as well as the New Plymouth Old Boys in the Taranaki Premier Division. Botchar has also dipped his toe into Rugby League, representing the restarted Toronto Wolfpack in their 2021 Canada Cup victory against DC Cavalry.

Although it was never made public, Botchar was signed with the Toronto Arrows for the 2024 MLR season, but with the Arrows announcing that they would not compete in the 2024 MLR season in late November 2023, he opted in to the subsequent Dispersal Draft for Toronto and NY players (the Ironworkers also announced that they would not compete in the 2024 season a week after the Arrows) and was selected 16^th overall by the NOLA Gold.

On 4^th January 2024, the NOLA Gold confirmed the signing of Callum Botchar for the 2024 MLR season when he scored 2 tries in 16 appearances (9 starts), and completed over 100 tackles. He was named as the recipient of the 2024 NOLA Gold Shawn Riley ‘Heart of Gold’ Award.

achievements

• 2024 NOLA Gold Shawn Riley Heart of Gold award