Team

Benn, 21, arrives at the club from Australian side Manly, where the fleet-footed back has been plying his trade in the Shute Shield.

The six-foot-two, 205-pound centre is currently in his first full year of playing in the senior team at Manly, though he was called up from the colts on four occasions across the Marlins’ 2021 campaign. Benn has helped lead Manly to a 10-0-8 record in 2022, scoring six tries in his breakout season after spending two years developing in the club’s under-20 program.

While his primary position is outside centre, the versatile back is also comfortable slotting in on the wing.

Benn will be designated as a domestic player through his Canadian eligibility, as his mother was born and raised in northern British Columbia.

The Newcastle, Australia-born speedster played his grassroots rugby with Lake Macquarie, and in his last year of high school was chosen to represent his birth nation when he earned a spot on the Australian under-18 sevens team competing at the 2019 World School Sevens competition in New Zealand.

Updated: Aug. 9, 2022