Official Release from the Ontario Arrows Rugby Club
Update: September 8, 2017
(GLENDALE, CO) - Ontario Arrows head coach Chris Silverthorn has named his team for Saturday's cross border clash with the Glendale Merlins in Colorado. The match marks the first time the Canadian high performance team has played under this name and format.
The bulk of the team comes from this years Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) finalists Ontario Blues. One CRC champion from BC and two Atlantic Rock players will also slot in. Seventeen of the game day 23 played for Ontario in their 43-25 win over Glendale on May 20, but Silverthorn expects a very different situation.
“We know Glendale will come out hard and we are going to have to match their speed and physicality,” he said. "We have been together through the summer though and expect the guys know what we need from them.”
ONTARIO ARROWS STARTING XV vs. GLENDALE MERLINS - September 9, 2017
1 Rob Brouwer (captain)
2 Eric Howard
3 Alex Forrest
4 Mike Sheppard
5 Hank McQueen
6 Pete Milazzo
7 Lucas Rumball
8 Andrew Wilson
9 Andrew Ferguson
10 Pat Parfrey
11 Jon West
12 Guiseppe du Toit
13 Josh Campbell
14 Kainoa Lloyd
15 Johnny Sheridan
16 AJ Quattrin
17 Pat Lynott
18 Ryan Surgenor
19 Paul Ciulini
20 Marcello Wainwright
21 Mario Vanderwesthuizen
22 Mitch Richardson
23 Kyle Lagasca
Original Release: September 5, 2017
(GLENDALE, CO) - Ontario Arrows Rugby Club have named their first ever squad for this Saturday's game in Denver against the Glendale Merlins. This is a highly anticipated match up of top shelf North American rugby sides.
The match between the newly formed team and the Glendale side was announced on August 25, 2017. Kick off is scheduled for 5:00pm ET.
The Arrows and Merlins players will be quite familiar with each other. The Ontario Blues and Glendale Raptors played in May of this year in Burlington, Ontario eventually won the match 43-25 (7 tries to 4) and although there will be some changes to both rosters, this promises to be another cracking match.
Ontario will have 17 of the 23 players from the May encounter named in the team, with notable additions in prop Alex Forrest (PEI Mudmen), and mid fielders Pat Parfrey (Swilers NL) and Guiseppe du Toit (University of Victoria). Also added are flanker Pete Milazzo, center Kyle Lagasca and midfielder Mitch Richardson. Among those missing in this one are prop DJ Sears-Duru (Ealing Trailfinders), and wing Dan Moor (Oxford University).
“This is a bit of a new situation for us but we are going to prepare for a very tough game against a good team, on the road,” said Arrows coach Chris Silverthorn. “What comes after this is possibly very exciting but job one is to play well this Saturday - that’s something we can control.”
The Arrows will announce the starting XV and unveil their new team kit on Friday morning.
The match will be streamed LIVE at https://infinityparkatglendale.com/live-stream/.
For more information, please contact:
Mark Winokur arcbluesmgr@gmail.com
Bill Webb williamwebb88@gmail.com
Mike Brown mbrown@rugbyontario.com
ONTARIO ARROWS ROSTER vs. GLENDALE MERLINS - September 9, 2017
Rob Brouwer, Lindsay (CAPTAIN)
Pat Lynott, Bytown Blues
Eric Howard, Brantford
Andrew Quattrin, Aurora
Alex Forrest, Mudmen, (PEI)
Ryan Surgenor, Bytown Blues
Henry Mcqueen, Balmy Beach
Mike Sheppard, Stoney Creek
Paul Ciulini, Aurora
Lucas Rumball, Balmy Beach
Peter Milazzo, Toronto Saracens
Marcello Wainwright, Toronto Saracens
Andrew Wilson, Crusaders
Andrew Ferguson, Crusaders
Guiseppe du Toit, UVic (BC)
Patrick Parfrey, Swilers RFC (NL)
Mitch Richardson, Stoney Creek
Kyle Lagasca, Toronto Saracens
John Sheridan, Markham Irish
Josh Campbell, London
Kainoa Lloyd, Mississauga
Mario Vanderwesthuizen, Guelph
Jon West, Balmy Beach
Chris Silverthorn - Head Coach
Cory Hector - Assistant Coach
Mark Winokur - Team Manager
Chris Kelly - Athletic Therapist
