The Redbirds Rugby squad is coming off another strong campaign, going 5–1 in the regular season and falling just short against the Université de Montréal Carabins in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec semi-finals. Their effort was powered by the stellar performances throughout the team, but perhaps most notably by the impact of Harry Corkum, U3 Engineering and winger for the Redbirds. 

Corkum was named first team All-Canadian alongside teammate Brad Hunger by the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship committee. He was also named to the roster of the Canadian National Team for the 2025 Rugby Americas North Sevens tournament and scored a tournament-high nine tries en route to Canada’s eventual tournament triumph.

In an interview with The Tribune, Corkum discussed his rugby beginnings, his rise to the international stage, and what lies ahead in his sporting future.

Despite his lengthy rugby resume, Corkum was a two-sport standout and intended to further pursue ice hockey in Canada before eventually making the switch to playing rugby full-time.

“I played hockey and rugby simultaneously, and originally had planned when I went to Montreal to stick with ice hockey. At the time, I was playing for the Great Britain International Ice Hockey Team,” Corkum said. “I mean, between rugby and hockey, I’d always been around the sports world, […] but my McGill [rugby] career only started in the fall [of] 2024.”

Corkum played rugby sevens for the national team, a seven-a-side version of rugby that is faster-paced with a greater emphasis on athletic ability than the traditional fifteen-man game. 

“I would say fifteens is quite tactical, and it’s an 80-minute game […] sevens is shorter, [with] seven-minute halves,” Corkum explained. “It ends up being a lot about your athletic ability in sevens, whereas [in] fifteens there’s […] a lot more to think about in terms of […] playing a territory game [….] In sevens, you think more about just possession, getting your hands on the ball and then beating players one-on-one.”

Corkum went on to describe how the two variations are not just different on the field but also off the field in the ways that he and his teams prepare themselves for games.

“Fifteens is kind of a […] single event, so you end up with one game a week, whereas sevens, you could play six games over three days,” Corkum said. “So in that sense, you do prepare a little bit differently, just because you have to really keep your head in the game all day, over three days for sevens, whereas fifteens, it’s kind of hard to get yourself in the mindset mentally, but once the game’s done, you’re able to relax.”

Corkum’s participation in the national team setup at the Rugby Americas North Sevens tournament has opened up the distinct possibility of donning red and white at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, something that even Corkum himself would not have seen coming a year ago.

“I kind of had an idea that I would be somewhat involved in the Canada [team], because I had spoken to some scouts, some coaches, but to be honest, I had imagined it [happening] when I’d finished university,” he explained. “Canada Sevens has got a good pathway towards the Olympics, and provided everything goes right, we should qualify. So me, personally, I think my number one goal is to be able to put on that Canada jersey as many times as possible. Looking […] long-term to the 2028 L.A. Olympics, I think it would be an amazing opportunity for me to hopefully make that squad and be able to represent my country at an Olympic level.”

Corkum is aiming to add his name to the list of McGillians who have represented their country at the Olympics. For now, he will continue to hone his craft and enjoy the relationships he has forged through the sport.

“I always find a sense of community [in rugby] [….] There are people who are from different places, Ireland, Portugal, [the] west of Canada, the U.S., […] all over the place, and they’re all friends. Now that I find that I can just send a message to every once in a while if they’re ever in my hometown [….] I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime.”