Combines for athletes aged 18 to 23, professional development sessions for coaches to be held at locations across Ontario in November and December.

TORONTO, ON – The Toronto Arrows announced today, in partnership with Rugby Ontario, that its Academy will be hosting a series of identification combines for athletes and professional development sessions for coaches this fall.

“This will be a first look for me to see what talent is out here in the province,” said Jamie Cudmore, Toronto Arrows Academy Director. “We are looking for raw talent that has a good attitude and is willing to work hard. Speed, size and/or skill are the main requirements needed, but toughness and grit are intangibles I value in players that I coach.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the coaches put forward and helping grow the pathway to professional rugby in Ontario and Canada.”

Held at locations across Ontario in November and December and run with support from Rugby Ontario, each full-day session will include a morning of professional development for coaches, followed by an afternoon that features a strength testing combine and skill-based games for athletes aged 18 to 23.

Athletes selected to participate in the identification series will be nominated by post-secondary and club coaches, with Academy staff placing a selection emphasis on confirmed* players.

“I don’t think coaches in Canada get enough opportunities to learn and collaborate in person about best practices in the game, and that is what these professional development sessions aim to provide,” added Cudmore. “From my experience while coaching in France’s Top 14 and Pro D2 leagues, as well as internationally with Canada’s Men’s XV, I’m looking forward to helping coaches across this country grow.”

“I want us to connect and build towards coaching a fast, exciting, heads-up, unapologetically Canadian brand of rugby that we can all be proud of.”

Arrows Academy Fall Identification Series

University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ont.
Friday, Nov. 3, 2023
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. // Professional Development for Coaches
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. // Field and Skills Testing for Athletes

Additional identification combines for athletes and professional development sessions for coaches will be held at locations in Niagara, the GTA, and Ottawa. Details will be announced in the coming days.

Athlete Expressions of Interest

All athletes interested in participating in the Arrows Academy Fall Identification Series are encouraged to alert their coaches (post-secondary, interbranch, club) of their intent.

Coaches will then submit their player lists to Academy staff via email at academy@torontoarrows.com for consideration.

*Academy staff are placing a selection emphasis on confirmed players, including those who meet one or more of the following criteria:

– have represented their province or country at the age-grade level;
– have played for their post-secondary (university or college) team;
– have played for their club team at a first division level;
– under their coach’s discretion, have a speed, size, or skill level that merits a look at the next level

All athletes selected to participate in the combines will be notified directly by Academy staff.

There will be no cost for selected athletes to participate.

Coach Expressions of Interest

All coaches interested in attending Arrows Academy Fall Identification Series professional development sessions are encouraged to confirm their attendance by notifying Academy staff via the club’s registration form.

Please note that there is a $120 cost to attend each professional development session. The fee, which offsets hosting costs and includes coffee, Arrows merchandise, and full immersion in the afternoon combine, can be paid on site.

All additional inquiries can be sent to Academy staff at academy@torontoarrows.com.