Concordia Stingers’ Julien Cantin Switches From Soccer to Rugby

Former Stingers Soccer Player Takes On Rugby As New Challenge

SportsSafia Ahmad — Published October 3, 2016

Cantin got his first taste of action in an exhibition game in Beaconsfield.

“The word to describe that game was confusion,” he said. “I barely touched the ball. I think I was just thinking way too much, just thinking ‘ok where should I be right now? OK wait, why is he in front of me? Should I go back?’”

These were the kinds of questions that Cantin never had to ask himself as a soccer player, a sport he has been playing since the age of five. The 22-year-old exercise science student came to Concordia last year, thinking he was going to play for the soccer team.

He did, starting in the winter of 2015. The following season, Cantin broke his foot after missing a step going down the stairs at home. He couldn’t play in the fall and even when he returned in the winter, he was still visibly affected by the injury and only played two games.

“To have that freak injury was devastating to him,” said the men’s soccer head coach Greg Sutton. “It was tough for him so you know I think that played into his mind on how he’s going to take on this season as well.”

During that difficult season, the Saguenay-native was already thinking about rugby. Then rugby head coach Clive Gibson first approached him and asked if he would be interested in making the jump. Former Stingers soccer players Vincent Jalbert-Murray and Alexander Elali had already done it in 2015. Cantin said, “if they could do it, why can’t I?”

If that wasn’t enough to convince him, his courses this year conflicted with the soccer team’s practice schedule—no practice, no playing time. Cantin took it as a sign that it was time to take on a new challenge, and so far, he is enjoying every minute of his experience with the rugby team.

“I really love rugby,” said the rookie, smiling. “It’s amazing. I just showed up to training camp and said ‘let’s go, let’s try it.’”

Cantin didn’t know what to expect at the start of season, especially in terms of technique. If there was one thing he thought he would excel at, it was naturally kicking. Oddly enough this turned out to be a challenge.

“The approach when you kick the rugby ball is so different than in soccer,” he explained. “I thought ‘well soccer ball, I kicked that my whole life, I’m gonna kick that rugby ball easily!’”

Passing the ball backwards was also unusual for Cantin, who was trained to always move the soccer ball forward as a defenseman. But with four regular season games under his belt, head coach Craig Beemer can say with certainty that Cantin is a fast learner.

“He picks up on things really quickly,” he explained. “He’s very attentive. You can tell he’s always listening—he’s the kid you never have to tell twice.”

Cantin has shown signs of improvement since the beginning of the season. While the first regular season game loss against McGill felt a lot like the first pre-season match against Beaconsfield, Cantin found himself adapting more and more with each game.

This improvement translated into two tries, which are equivalent to two touchdowns in football, in his third game against École de Technologie Supérieure. It was also the team’s first win of the season.

Beemer was pleasantly surprised by Cantin’s quick adjustment to the game.

“I [initially] figured, maybe by the end of the season he would be able to get to where he is already,” said the head coach. “He’s already done better than I thought he would be.”

Part of his early success can be credited to his background in judo. He picked up the martial art when he was five-years-old, right at the time he began playing soccer. He would alternate between soccer in the summer and judo in the winter. It was the perfect combination.

The former judoka moved to Montreal to practice at the national centre alongside the Olympic team. After 15 years, he decided to put an end to that chapter of his life and focus on playing soccer—but that physical aspect was missing. Rugby provided the perfect outlet for him.

“Maybe that’s why I really enjoy tackling people but also I don’t mind getting tackled,” said Cantin.

The techniques he learned in judo can be easily applied to rugby. The martial art also taught him how to handle his emotions—which is crucial in a contact sport.

“It really taught me to stay in control of my emotions and using them, more than letting them use you,” he explained. “I learned that it’s good to be angry in a judo match but you have to use it and make sure you keep it in your control.”

This kind of mentality taps into the type of rugby player Cantin aspires to be: smart. While technique on the field is important to grasp, he feels that anyone can acquire those skills with practice. Understanding the game strategically and being one step ahead mentally is a huge advantage.

“If I can be a smart player, read the play, find the gaps […] that’s something that has to be a bit natural,” said Cantin. “I would love it if I can have that gift.”

For now, Cantin doesn’t have many expectations for this season. He wants to live day-by-day and see where life takes him next. He’s not the type of person who commits to an idea forever. “You never know, maybe next year I’ll change degree,” he said.

Beemer, on the other hand, foresees more surprises from his rookie and already thinks his quick improvement has made some of his injured teammates a bit nervous as they slowly re-enter the lineup.

“As I get some players back from injury, they wouldn’t admit to it, but they’re probably a bit nervous that Julien is already moved up significantly in the depth chart,” he said.

A little competition never hurts.