B.C. Lions re-sign newly Nationalized linebacker Maxime Rouyer

Photo courtesy: Dustin Bowdige/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions have re-signed National linebacker Maxime Rouyer through 2026.

The native of Troyes, France, was recently granted a special exception by the CFL to change his status from Global to National, allowing him to be treated as if he were a Canadian player. This brings his status in line with other international U Sports alumni currently playing in the league.

Rouyer dressed for eight games with the Lions in 2025, making two special teams tackles.

The 31-year-old was originally selected fourth overall in the first round of the 2019 CFL European Draft, the precursor to the modern Global Draft, by the Edmonton Elks. He spent two seasons with the team before being released.

Rouyer spent the first part of the 2022 season with the Wroclaw Panthers in the European League of Football, amassing 89 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown. He later signed with B.C. in September of that year, and has been with the team for four seasons, playing a key role on special teams and becoming one of the organization’s CFLPA player representatives.

In 60 career CFL games, Rouyer has collected eight defensive tackles, 26 special teams tackles, and a forced fumble.

Prior to his professional career, the six-foot-one, 225-pound linebacker attended McGill from 2015 to 2018, registering 103 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 23 total games with the Redbirds. He moved to Canada at the age of 16 to attend Cégep de Jonquière.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.