Nic Benn Gets 1st Cap in NZ NPC with Hawke’s Bay
Nic Benn came on at the 66′ mark in Round 1 of the NPC for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies to gain his 1st NPC cap. He’s only 1 of 14 Canadian internationals who have played in the NPC. He has 13 caps for Canada but was unavailable for Canada’s 2026 summer internationals. Playing at NPC level puts him top of the selection list for outside backs for Canada. The NZ NPC competition is higher than MLR and is more on par with France Pro D2 or the UK Championship.
Nic Benn #23 comes on a 66′ for 1st NPC cap
Nic Benn: Player Profile & Research Summary
(by Bob Ai assistant)
1. Hawke’s Bay Debut
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NPC Debut: Earned his first NPC cap coming off the bench as jersey #23 for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies in their opening round 52–33 victory over the Wellington Lions.
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NPC Historical Context: Joins a select group as only the 14th Canadian-eligible player to play NPC rugby. Hawke’s Bay previously featured Canadian international tighthead prop Jason Marshall (2014).
2. Eligibility & Background
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Dual Eligibility: Born in Newcastle, Australia to an Australian father and a Canadian mother (who was born and raised in northern British Columbia).
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Early Years in BC: Lived in British Columbia between the ages of 4 and 9 before returning to Australia.
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Age & Position: Utility back (primarily wing / centre / outside back). Born around 2001 (~25 years old).
3. Australian Pathways & Early Career
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Youth Rugby: Played for the Australia Sevens U18 side at the 2019 World School 7s in Auckland, NZ.
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Shute Shield: Represented Manly Marlins U20 (2020–2021) and broke into the senior squad for the 2022 Shute Shield competition, scoring 6 tries.
4. Major League Rugby (MLR) Odyssey
Benn’s North American professional career was marked by resilience through major team foldings and injuries:
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Toronto Arrows (2023): Signed ahead of the 2023 season, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the season opener. Re-signed for 2024, but the franchise ceased operations in late 2023.
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Dallas Jackals (2024): Selected 13th overall in the Toronto/NY dispersal draft. Enjoyed a breakout 2024 season, playing 16 games (15 starts), scoring 5 tries, racking up over 750 meters gained, and helping lead Dallas to their first-ever playoff appearance. Scored 2 tries in the Western Conference Final. Earned MLR Team of the Week honors.
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Utah Warriors (2025): After Dallas folded post-2024, Benn was chosen 4th overall in his second consecutive dispersal draft by Utah, where he featured throughout the 2025 season.
5. International Career
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Canada Test Debut: Earned his first senior cap for Canada during the summer 2024 test window.
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First Match: July 6, 2024 vs Scotland
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Location: TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario
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Position: Started on the wing
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Historical Note: Benn earned his debut alongside a strong group of new caps during Canada’s 2024 Summer Series. He followed up his debut with a strong campaign through the 2024 and 2025 Pacific Nations Cup windows and autumn internationals, establishing himself as a regular starter in Canada’s backline.