Toronto Arrows Announce 2023 High Performance Academy Athletes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, ON – The Toronto Arrows are pleased to announce the club’s High Performance Academy Athletes for the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

The initial five-player group of under-24 athletes consists of No. 8 Tom Artmann, outside back Brenden Black, centre Jacob Ince, hooker David Scollon, and lock Hank Stevenson.

Artmann, 21, made six appearances for the Arrows Senior Academy over its inaugural season in 2022. The product of Montreal West, Que. participated in Canada’s under-20 camp in 2021, and is fresh off of earning RSEQ Player of the Season honours with the Concordia Stingers this past autumn.

Black, 18, featured for Canada’s under-18 side at the Corendon Rugby Summer Tour in the Netherlands this past July. The Oakville, Ont. native just completed his first season with the University of Guelph.

Ince, 20, suited up in one match for the Young Arrows last year. The centre from Oakville, Ont. featured for Canada’s under-20 team at the U20s Canada Conference 2022 tournament this past August, and just finished his second OUA campaign with the Guelph Gryphons program.

Scollon, 20, earned a half-dozen caps for the Arrows Senior Academy ahead of his selection for Canada’s under-20 team this past summer. The Mississauga, Ont. native just wrapped up his second year as a member of the Guelph Gryphons.

Stevenson, 23, made six appearances for the Arrows Senior Academy in 2022, and has spent time training with the club’s Senior Team throughout portions of 2021 and 2022 MLR seasons. The hometown Torontonian is a graduate of Rugby Canada’s Maple Leafs Sevens development program and featured for Canada’s under-20 touring team in 2019.

“The involvement of these players is massively important in order to close the gap between university and the professional game,” said Cory Hector, Arrows Academy Director and Head Coach. “We’ve not only deliberately selected players who show potential, but also those that align closely with some of most seasoned professional players on the Senior Team to further enhance their development. We’re hopeful these players represent the first step in the evolution and development of our Academy program.”

The inaugural cohort of High Performance Academy Athletes will regularly train with the Senior Team throughout the MLR season.

The club will begin its fifth season in North America’s top-flight professional rugby league with a road match against Rugby ATL on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

About Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club:

Established in 2018, the Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club is Canada’s first and only professional rugby union team.

Competing in Major League Rugby, the team is equipped to compete against top-tier North American professional club teams, providing emerging Canadian talent with enhanced and more frequent opportunities to hone their skills at an elite level.

For more information, visit https://torontoarrows.com/

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For more information, please contact:

Brock Smith
Communications Manager
Toronto Arrows
[email protected]