Josh Thiel Announced as 6th Signing for Vancouver Highlanders
The Vancouver Highlanders have announced Josh Thiel as their 6th signing. Josh has been capped for Canada at the senior level and at the U20 level. He’s also represented Canada on the 7s circuit and played for the San Diego Legion of the MLR. He’s plays both #10 and inside centre, although his first senior cap was at fullback. He’s was part of a talented group of BC U19 players that won Gold at the National Championships in 2016, also on that team were Michael Smith, Callum Botchar, Elias Ergas and Noah Bain.
Checking through our current stories Josh first shows up in March 2021 where he’s starting for the San Diego Legion of the MLR at #10. In February 2022 he’s in his 2nd season with San Diego playing alongside Michael Smith and Kanoa Lloyd. In June of 2022 San Diego make it to the semi-finals of the MLR but are stopped by Seattle, Josh is in the roster along with Michael Smith and Jason Higgins.
In August of 2022 Josh made his 7s debut at the LA 7s alongside his brother Jake Thiel. In October 2022 Josh played for JBAA in their BC Premier match vs CW, also playing for the Bays was Cooper Coats. Also in October the Canada ‘A’ team for the Americas Rugby Trophy in Brazil was named, Josh was on the squad. Josh got the start at inside centre against a Chile XV, Cooper Coats was #10. In November of 2022 Canada played matches versus the Netherlands and Namibia. Josh got the start at inside centre against the Netherlands, a game Canada won, Ben Lesage was at outside centre. It was the same centre pairing against Namibia, a game Canada lost 43-37.
In the spring of 2023 Josh was back on the 7s circuit, he was named to the long list for the XVs team at the La Vila tournament in Spain. In October 2023 Josh was back with the Bays in the BC Premier playing outside centre.
Going back into our archives, in 2019 Josh was playing for the Pacific Pride, at inside centre. He was on the men’s Silver medal winning 7s team at the PanAm Games in 2019. Josh was playing for the Bays in the 2018-19 BC Premier season, he was playing #10 and Cooper Coats was #15. In the summer of 2018 he played for the BC Bears at #10, BC won Bronze that year in the Canadian Championship. In March 2018 Josh received his 1st XVs cap playing fullback in Canada’s 33-17 win over Chile in the ARC. In 2017 Josh and brother Jake were on the Canada U20 team. In 2016 both brothers were on the BC U19 team that won Gold at the National Championship.