Hello! We are the folks at Gilbert Rugby Canada working hard to bring the best rugby balls and training products on the planet, with customer service and knowledge to match!
Robin MacDowell - National Team Sales Lead and Western and Central Canada Club & School Sales
Robin lives in spectacular Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. He has played internationally for Canada on the Sevens team, and has also coached rugby professionally for the Mexican Women's RWC 2019 team, as well as with other international teams. Robin has more recently been devoting his time to building The MacDowell Rugby Academy which offers secondary students and opportunity to split their school time between academics and rugby year round. When Robin is not coaching, or sharing his love of rugby with global legends through is popular rugby podcast, The Rugby Hive, he enjoys hikes with his wife Sam, and fur-baby Molly.
Get in touch: Robin@gilbertrugbycanada.com
Tim Hart - Eastern Canada Club & School Sales
Tim was born and raised in Canada's Ocean Playground— Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a player Tim competed for; province of Nova Scotia, with the Keltics; the Atlantic Region, with the Rock, and nationally with the Canadian u20 program. He was also apart of the junior Dog River Howlers program where he first met Gilbert team mate— Robin MacDowell. Tim no longer plays the game but, still enjoys every bit of it as he did as a player! Now taking on the roles of coach, volunteer, spectator, or salesmen, he is never far from the pitch! Tim is also a devoted community builder volunteering with his twin brother to clean up Halifax in his spare time!
Get in touch: Tim@gilbertrugbycanada.com
Ontario Club & School Sales
For support with Ontario club and school sales please reach out to Shawna Dingman by phone: 905. 335. 9098 or email: Shawna@GilbertRugbyCanada.com
Shawna Dingman - Head Office Club & School Support
Shawna was born and raised in the Hammer also known as Steeltown (Hamilton, Ontario). As a player Shawna played for; the Stoney Creek Camels RFC, Niagara 7’s for an Ontario summer games, Sherwood Secondary, and Ancaster High. With touring across Ontario and even to Washington, after years of involvement in the game Shawna had to hang up her boots due to a serious knee injury. With Shawna’s diverse background in customer service and not being able to play anymore, she knew she had to be apart of the Gilbert Team. When she’s not supporting customers in our Head Office, she enjoys being outdoors/spending time with her fiancé Zach, and their fur-babies Jersey and Gizmo.
Get in touch: Shawna@gilbertrugbycanada.com
Kim Peggie - Head Office Team Lead
Meeting the local color in Robertsbridge at Gilbert's UK head office
Kim has been working at Monilex Sports / Gilbert Canada team since 2006 when she had the pleasure of working directly with both Monty Heald and Lexie Tynan.
"To say the least, the office was never boring with all the Old Timer stories that the two of them shared. I have so much respect for both Monty & Lexie as they were there for me and my family during some very tough times with my daughter’s health supporting me like I was part of the rugby family. One doesn’t need to play to feel the support that rugby creates around Canada and the world. Fast forward to present time with the new owner Leigh Tynan (yes, she is the daughter of the FAMOUS Lexie) she has made the transition here over the past five years at the office so easy that is contintues to be a great place to work. My role here at Gilbert Canada is one of many - Office manager one day, customer service the next and shipper receiver another… one must be prepared to roll up their sleeves when needed in a small family run business. If you call into the office usually, I am your first contact. If you have any questions about the Gilbert gear if I don’t know it, I can find out as I have a direct line to the top in the UK. What has kept me here for so long #1 the people #2 the variety of my job #3 Rugby!! It is great to see the team growing here at Gilbert Canada now, and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us! Over the years I have gotten to know quite of few people from all over Canada but only over the phone as I am not a rugby player, just a huge fan! Hope to see you in the stands one day!"
Kim was raised in Burlington, ON and has been married for almost 25 wonderful years to Brian and has one amazing daughter Eve.
Get in touch: kim@gilbertrugbycanada.com
Leigh Tynan - Country Manager for Gilbert in Canada
Leigh grew up spending her weekends at the side of the pitch, first at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, and then later at Sherwood Forest Park home of The Burlington Centaurs RFC, watching her Dad, Lexie Tynan, play and then coach. Leigh got bitten by the swimming bug at age 9 and swam competitively into her early twenties and then pursued ITU World Cup circuit triathlon - which meant she never played rugby! But she is a passionate supporter of growing rugby in Canada and continuing on the legacy created by Gilbert Rugby Canada/Monilex founders Monty Heald and her Dad, Lexie Tynan. The Gilbert Champions program and supporting grassroots and youth programs is what Leigh is most passionate about as she knows the amazing places in life you can go with a rugby ball in your hand! When not working with the amazing team at Gilbert, Leigh is hanging out with her super cool kiddo and pup George Clooney.
Get in touch: Leigh@gilbertrugbycanada.com
