Arrows Announce Lineup for 2023 Home Opener

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, ON – Toronto Arrows Head Coach Peter Smith has named his starting lineup for Saturday’s home opener against the New York Ironworkers.

Gene Syminton draws in at the hooker position, shifting Ramon Ayarza from hooker to loosehead prop — the Chilean’s secondary position and a role he’s assumed many times throughout his professional career — and Lolani Faleiva across the front row to tighthead prop.

The now-fit Adrian Wadden returns to the lineup to start at lock, while captain Lucas Rumball moves from the flank to the back of the scrum at the No. 8 position. Rumball’s vacant blindside flanker slot is filled by 2022 first-round draft pick Owain Ruttan.

Canadian international fly-half Shane O’Leary is set to make his first start for the club after his activation off the injured reserve, with Sam Malcolm dropping back to fullback.

It’s wholesale changes on the wing, as Mitch Richardson returns from injury and D’Shawn Bowen earns his first start after last week’s club debut as a second-half substitute.

The bench features a trio of recent signees, with Arrows returnee Marc-Antoine Ouellet, English lock Shay Kerry and Canadian international fly-half Peter Nelson all in contention to make their season debuts – and in the case of the latter two, their Arrows debuts – if called upon.

The Arrows (1-5; 6 points) fell to the Ironworkers (3-3; 15 points) earlier this season, dropping a 39-3 away decision in Week 2. Toronto holds a 3-4 all-time record against New York, with the two clubs splitting the season series in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Saturday’s game will kick off at 4 p.m. ET from York Lions Stadium, with tickets starting at $20.

The Eastern Conference clash will be shown on TSN4, TSN.ca, and the TSN app for Canadian audiences, and will be available on The Rugby Network for American and international audiences. Additional broadcast details.

Toronto Arrows Lineup vs. New York Ironworkers:

1. Ramon Ayarza
2. Gene Syminton
3. Lolani Faleiva
4. Mike Sheppard (VC)
5. Adrian Wadden
6. Owain Ruttan
7. James O’Neill
8. Lucas Rumball (C)
9. Ross Braude
10. Shane O’Leary
11. Mitch Richardson
12. Noel Reid
13. Fabian Goodall [wearing no number]
14. D’Shawn Bowen
15. Sam Malcolm (VC)
16. Jack McRogers
17. Nik Hildebrand
18. Marc-Antoine Ouellet
19. Hank Stevenson
20. Shay Kerry
21. Will Grant
22. Dawson Fatoric
23. Peter Nelson

Injury / Recovery List: Ciaran Breen, Cole Davis, Mitch Eadie, Mason Flesch, Travis Larsen, Conan O’Donnell, Avery Oitomen, Tyler Rowland, Isaac Salmon, Tautalatasi Tasi, Corey Thomas

Long-Term Injured Reserve: Nic Benn, Micaiah Torrance-Read

Unavailable: Brenden Black

SQUAD NOTES:

• D’Shawn Bowen and Shane O’Leary are set to make their first starts for the club
• Shay Kerry and Peter Nelson stand to make their Arrows debuts off the bench
• Marc-Antoine Ouellet stands to make his season debut off the bench
• Eight squad members are full Canadian internationals: Ross Braude (12 caps), Dawson Fatoric (2 caps), Jack McRogers (1 cap), Peter Nelson (15 caps), Shane O’Leary (14 caps), Lucas Rumball (47 caps), Owain Ruttan (1 cap), Mike Sheppard (11 caps)
• Ramon Ayarza (12 caps) is a full Chilean international
• Noel Reid (1 cap) is a full Irish international

WEEK 8 MILESTONE WATCH:

• 35 – Jack McRogers is in contention to earn his 35th cap, becoming the 8th Arrow to reach this career milestone
• 30 – Adrian Wadden is in contention to earn his 30th cap, becoming the 14th Arrow to reach this career milestone
• 20 – Lolani Faleiva is in contention to earn his 20th cap, becoming the 28th Arrow to reach this career milestone

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]