Leader's late field goal rallies Tiger-Cats past Alouettes

HAMILTON — All Tadgh Leader wanted was a second chance to impact his first-ever game with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Irish-born former rugby player -- whose first name is pronounced like Tiger without the r -- made a 35-yard field goal on the game's final play to give Hamilton an improbable 25-23 win over the Montreal Alouettes in the opening CFL exhibition game for both teams. Leader's kick came after his 33-yard punt earlier in the final quarter.

Leader's heroics came after rookie Davis Alexander staked Montreal to a 23-22 lead. After scoring on a one-yard TD run at 14:45, Alexander hit Krishawn Hogan on the two-point convert.

Hamilton returned the ensuing kickoff to its 41-yard line. With 10 seconds remaining, Montreal's Robert Hayes Jr. was flagged for pass interference on an incompletion, giving the Ticats possession at the Alouettes' 28-yard line with three seconds to play.

After making the kick, Leader was mobbed on the field by teammates.

"I've never been in that situation before," Leader said. "That was just my 10th game of football ever so I haven't had that opportunity.

"It was pretty surreal when I looked up and saw the ball was flying straight and within a few seconds all the lads just engulfing me. A nice welcoming to the team."

The six-foot-two, 205-pound Leader, a native of Galway, Ireland, signed with Hamilton after making four-of-six field goals, six-of-seven converts and sporting a 42.1-yard punting average last year with the Aviators of The Spring League. He also played for Poland's Wroclaw Panthers of the European League of Football.

But rugby was originally Leader's sport of choice. He was in Major League Rugby with the San Diego Legion (2018) and New England Free Jacks (2018-2021) while also