Arrows to Face Defending Champs
February 11, 2022 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Toronto Arrows News Release
LANGFORD, BC - Toronto Arrows Head Coach Peter Smith has named his starting lineup for Friday's clash with the Los Angeles Giltinis in British Columbia, marking the Arrows' first regular season match on Canadian soil in 985 days.
The iconic game - the first regular season Major League Rugby match to be played in British Columbia - will be played Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C.
The Arrows will run out a heavily Canadian side for their first match in their home nation since 2019, with Smith selecting 11 full Canadian internationals to his matchday squad to face the reigning MLR champions.
Twelve full internationals have been named to Toronto's matchday squad, carrying a combined cap total of 234 matches, while Aussie Sevens grad Matt Hood will make his Arrows debut on the wing.
Ten players are currently on the injured reserve and are unavailable for selection, including nine backs.
Squad Notes:
Hood will make his Arrows debut as a starter, while Bell stands to make his club debut off the bench
Wadden is in contention to make his season debut off the bench
Eleven squad members are full Canadian internationals: Baillie (34 caps), Braude (8 caps), Ciulini (8 caps), Flesch (2 caps), Jones (6 caps), Keith (24 caps), Kelly (1 cap), Quattrin (13 caps), Rowland (6 caps), Rumball (43 caps), Sheppard (11 caps)
One additional squad member is a full international: Mieres (78 caps; Uruguay)
Ten players are on the injured reserve and are unavailable for selection: Brown, de la Vega, du Toit, Faust, A. Ferguson, B. Ferguson, Malcolm, McCann, Robinson-Bartlett, Sheridan
The Arrows fell to the Giltinis in the two sides' lone meeting in 2021, with LA earning a 43-16 road victory in a match played at a neutral site in New Orleans.
Friday's game will kick off at 10 p.m. ET. The cross-conference tilt will air on TSN 5 and stream on TSN.ca and the TSN App for Canadian audiences, and will be available on The Rugby Network for international audiences.
Toronto Arrows Lineup vs. Los Angeles Giltinis:
Cole Keith
Andrew Quattrin
Isaac Salmon
Mike Sheppard (C)
Paul Ciulini
Kyle Baillie
Lucas Rumball
Ronan Foley
Ross Braude
Will Kelly
Mitch Richardson
Spencer Jones
Ueta Tufuga
Matt Hood
Gaston Mieres
Jack McRogers
Lolani Faleiva
Tyler Rowland
Adrian Wadden
Mason Flesch
James O'Neill
Chris Bell
Mitch Voralek
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