Toronto Arrows Continue to Fill Quiver for 2020 MLR Season

29 August 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, ON – The Toronto Arrows are pleased to announce a second group of significant signings ahead of the 2020 Major League Rugby season.

The following players have re-signed with the club:

Paul Ciulini
Hometown: Maple, Ont.
Position: Lock
Age: 23

Spencer Jones
Hometown: Cambridge, New Zealand
Position: Centre
Age: 22

Cole Keith
Hometown: Apohaqui, N.B.
Position: Prop
Age: 22

Mike Smith
Hometown: Hamilton, Ont.
Position: Prop
Age: 27

Josh Van Horne
Hometown: Hespeler, Ont.
Position: Lock
Age: 29

Tom Van Horne
Hometown: Hespeler, Ont.
Position: Lock
Age: 29

The following players have joined the club:

Tayler Adams
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Scrum-half / Fly-half / Fullback
Age: 25 

Richie Asiata
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Prop
Age: 23

Will Kelly
Hometown: Ancaster, Ont.
Position: Fly-half
Age: 22

“We’re excited to announce this second round of signings as we get ready for the upcoming season,” said Arrows Vice President and General Manager Mark Winokur. “This block of signings continues our strategy of adding to our stable of strong Canadian talent while bolstering our roster with international players who fit the Arrows mould.”

Returnees Ciulini, Jones, Keith, Smith, and the Van Hornes combined for 61 appearances in Toronto’s inaugural MLR season, helping to guide the club to a post-season berth on the heels of an 11-5-0 record. All six players are Canadians, with Ciulini and Keith having earned eight and 14 international caps respectively.

Adams, a former Junior All Black, joins the Arrows from Mitre 10 Cup side Southland Stags. Between 2015 and 2018, the versatile back played in Australia, initially in the National Rugby Championship with the Greater Sydney Rams and NSW Country Eagles, and in 2018 for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby. Prior to joining Southland, Adams enjoyed a successful spell with Eastwood in the Shute Shield.

Asiata, a former Junior Wallaby, links up with Toronto from Mitre 10 Cup side Canterbury. The mobile prop was a member of the Queensland U20s side that went through the inaugural Super U20s Championship undefeated in 2016. Over the past two years, the 23-year-old’s form for Queensland Premier Rugby side Easts earned him training stints with Super Rugby side Reds. 

Kelly featured extensively for the Arrows throughout the club’s 2018 exhibition season, and returns to Toronto after spending a season abroad with Pro14 side the Dragons. Upon his return from Wales in early 2019, the 22-year-old regularly trained with the Arrows as a part-time player, though he’s yet to make his MLR debut. Kelly earned his first international cap earlier this year, coming on as a substitute against Brazil as a member of Canada’s Americas Rugby Championship squad.

Toronto has now signed 21 players ahead of the club’s sophomore Major League Rugby campaign.

The club will be making additional signing announcements in the coming weeks as season preparations continue to build.

About Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club:

The Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club is Canada’s first professional rugby union team.

Competing in Major League Rugby, the team is equipped to compete against top-tier North American 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] 

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Header Photo: José Romelo Lagman