The Western Washington University men's rugby team has expanded its recruiting efforts to north of the border and have signed a pair of athletes from Earl Marriott Secondary (EMS) for fall 2013.

Weighing in a 6'2", 210 lbs., Nathan Muir is a two-sport athlete at EMS. As the leading rusher on the football team, Muir turned down a lucrative offer to play for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, opting instead to focus on rugby. As an inside center, Muir helped EMS to their fourth-straight Fraser Valley Championship and was named best back for his efforts.

Fortunately, Muir will have the opportunity to play alongside someone familiar with his style, as EMS flyhalf Quinton Willms joins the center at Western. Willms is a product of provincial and national rugby academies, and has been a mainstay of (former Canada 7s head coach) Shane Thompson's BC Youth 7s program.

“We are very excited to have Nathan and Quinton joining the Western rugby program,” WWU rugby director Paul Horne said. “With the rapid growth of the collegiate game in America, the options for Canadian rugby players to pursue an education and play rugby in the NCAA is becoming a reality."

Both players will be looking to make an immediate impact at Western Washington in the fall of 2013. The collegiate 7s season kicks off at Oregon State on September 29, and WWU will once again be looking to earn a berth at the national championships.