Roughriders practice on Parliament Hill with the Prime Minister

The Roughriders had a special venue, and a special guest, for their Tuesday walk through in Ottawa.

The team laced up their cleats and practiced on the lawn at Parliament Hill and even the Prime Minister got in on the fun.

Near the end of practice, Justin Trudeau swung by and threw the ball around and took pictures with the players.

It was a pretty cool day for Canadian receiver Rob Bagg who remembered coming to Parliament Hill as a kid, but never had a memory like this one.

“(I never) put cleats on and tore up their grass, so it was definitely a unique experience,” he said, adding that having the Prime Minister stop by was something he’ll remember forever.

Equally impressed by the presence of Justin Trudeau was Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant, who is currently working on securing Canadian citizenship.

“It’s just amazing, especially where I come from,” he said. “To be able to come here at the most important building in Canada with the most important figure coming out here to address our team and take pictures with us – it’s just amazing. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m glad I was here to experience.”

Trudeau also took time to throw the ball around with some of the players, and while neither Bagg nor Durant thought he would be making his debut as a receiver any time soon, Durant said the Prime Minister’s throwing was much better.

“That throw wasn’t bad at all, it looked like back in the day he might have a had a bit of form,” Durant said.

However Chris Jones thought the Prime Minister would need a little more seasoning before making the Roughriders.

“I believe we’ve got a little bit of work to do, (he’ll) have to go on the practice roster maybe, and maybe we can move him up from there,” Jones said with a chuckle, adding he was very appreciative that the team was able to practice at parliament and for Trudeau to take time to stop by.

For Durant, he said all of this just shows that the Riders truly are Canada’s team.

“You saw it, the Prime Minister comes out, throws footballs with us, takes pictures with us. That will never happen anywhere else but with the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” he said.