Houston SaberCats vs. Ontario Arrows

The Houston SaberCats host the Ontario Arrows on March 3 at 7 pm CST at Constellation Field in Sugarland, Texas. This is the last home match of the pre-season, with away matches still against the New Orleans Gold and the San Diego Legion prior to their Major League Rugby season opener on April 21.

An audio broadcast of the match is available on MixLr with Grant Cole and Brett Mills providing the commentary. The SaberCats record is 11-2, while the Ontario Arrows are playing their first 2018 season match.

At a San Diego Legion Press Conference on February 28, it was indicated by League Commissioner Dean Howes, that Major League Rugby will be expanding to 10 teams in 2019, although it is possible that it will expand to 12 if two Canadian teams enter. The Ontario Arrows are one of the teams mentioned along with a team in Vancouver.

A Red River Rugby match at 4 pm between Texas A&M and LSU precedes the Houston SaberCats and Ontario Arrows match.

March 3rd is Fan Appreciation Night. Activities include tailgating at 2 pm, a live DJ from 4-7, player autographs from 5:30-6:30, and after the match is a meet and greet with the players. Tickets are still available.

Houston SaberCats

Justin Fitzpatrick has made three changes in the starters for the match against the Ontario Arrows from last week’s win against the New Orleans Gold. Charlie Hewitt returns at lock and Chris Coyle gets his first start for the SaberCats at flanker. Zach Pangelinan moves back to fullback, while Osea Kolinisau moves to the reserves for the first time. The SaberCats will also have wings Alex Elkins and Josua Vici switch sides.

In the reserves, Andres Diaz is at hooker, Pago Haini returns at the back row, and Kieran Farmer at flyhalf.

Houston SaberCats Players

The front row consists of Adam Macklin, who played for Ulster, Lindsey “Skeeter” Stevens, who played for Eastern Suburbs in the Shute Shield, and Paul Mullen a former Munster and USA age grade player, who also played locally for HARC and for Galveston. The locks are Charlie Hewitt (Worcester Warriors, Exeter Chiefs, London Irish, England U18s) and Rob Meeson, who played professionally for the Sacramento Express. The back row consists of Chris Coyle an ACT Brumbies 7s professional and Eagle Kyle Sumsion (Sacramento Express), with Eagle Matt Trouville at No. 8.

At scrumahlf is Connor Murphy, who played with the London Irish, teaming with Sam Windsor, who played for Ulster. Conor Mills is at center, having played for the HS and Jr. All-Americans and locally for HARC and Lone Star. Malacchi Esdale gets his second start at outside center and previously played for the Orlando Griffins. The wings are Alex Elkins, who was one of the leading try scorers for the Ohio Aviators. The other wing and fullback are former Fiji 7s team players in the powerful and fast wing, Josua Vici and Zach Pangelinan, an Eagle, is the fullback. Pangelinan also played with Randwick in the Shute Shield, and with OMBAC.

The reserves include Andres Diaz at hooker. He is a former USA U20 and Jr All-American and played with HARC. Jake Turnbull and Kenneth Hepburn are props. Turnbull played professionally at prop for the Denver Stampede, and also played for Eastern Suburbs and the USA Selects. Petey Hepburn was a Jamaica 7s players and also played for HARC and HURT. Justin Allen, is a lock who played in Ireland for Southend and was a USA U20 player. BAck row players include Cecil Garber (San Diego Breakers), Chris Parker, a USA Collegiate All-American and Austin Black, and Pago Haini, a Eagles 7s player and who played for Santa Monica.

The reserve backs include the crafty play maker and Olympian, Osea Kolinisau, Dan Paul, a versatile player, who played with BYU and the West Houston Lions. Kieran Farmer, a flyhalf played with the Woodlands.

Ontario Arrows

Ontario Arrows Squad Notes:

Six members of Ontario’s starting lineup will make their Arrows debut: Dolezel, Francis, Gliksten, Leveridge, McLelland, Windsor
Five additional players are in contention to make their Arrows debut off the substitute’s bench: Coats, Kelly, McRogers, Smith, Van Horne
Four Arrows will make their first start for the club, having featured as substitutes in Ontario’s first-ever match last fall (Sept. 9, 2017 vs. Glendale Merlins): Ciulini, Quattrin, Richardson, Wainwright
Four squad members are full Canadian internationals: Brouwer (9 caps), Ciulini (6 caps), Dolezel (16 caps), Wilson (1 cap)

The Ontario Arrows played the Glendale Merlins in their first match on September 9, 2017, at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado. The Glendale Merlins won that match 41-7. View match Highlights!

Ontario Arrows side vs. Glendale Merlins on September 9, 2017, via Americas Rugby News.
Ontario Arrows: 1 Rob Brouwer (capt.), 2 Eric Howard, 3 Alex Forrest, 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Hank McQueen, 6 Peter Milazzo, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Andrew Wilson, 9 Andrew Ferguson, 10 Patrick Parfrey, 11 Jon West, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Josh Campbell, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Johnny SheridanReplacements: 16 AJ Quattrin, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Ryan Surgenor, 19 Paul Ciulini, 20 Marcello Wainwright, 21 Mario van der Westhuizen, 22 Mitch Richardson, 23 Kyla Lagasca
Glendale Merlins: 1 Kelepi Fifita, 2 Zach Fenoglio (capt.), 3 Luke White, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Casey Rock, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Peter Dahl, 8 John Quill, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 Will Magie, 11 John Ryberg, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Chad London, 14 Dustin Croy, 15 Seth Halliman16 James Del Bozque, 17 Blake Rogers, 18 Giorgi Tsverava, 19 Devin Vaughter, 20 Grigori Kerdikoshvili, 21 Mose Timoteo, 22 Ata Malifa, 23 Maximo de Achaval

Ontario Arrows Players

The front row consists of Rob Brouwer at loosehead prop. He is 35 years old, 6’3′, 255 pounds and has 9 caps for Canada. At hooker is AJ Quattrin, who is 21, 5’11” tall and weighs 230 pounds. He played for the Canada U20s. At tighthead prop is Tom Dolezel, 33 years old, 6’4″, 275 pounds and has 16 caps for Canada.

At lock are captain Mike Sheppard, 29 years old, 6’4″, 245 and played for Canada A. He is paired with Paul Ciulini, age 22, 6’5″, 255, and has 6 caps for Canada.

In the back row, Marcello Wainwright is 21, 5’11”, 220 and has played for the Maple Leafs 7s. Kolby Francis is also 21, 6’5″, 220 and was a National University All-Star. At No. 8 is Peter Milazzo, 21, 6’4″, 230 and played for Canada A. All the starting forwards have played for the Ontario Blues.

At scrumhalf is Saracens Academy (UK) player Alex Gliksten, who is 20, 5’7″, and 175 pounds. He is paired with flyhalf Shawn Windsor, 31, 6’1″ and 190 pounds. Windsor has also played for the Ontario Blues.

The centers are Jamie Leveridge, 23, 6’2″ and 220 pounds and Mitch Richardson, 21, 6’2″, 205 and who has played for Canada A and the Ontario Blues.

The back three include Jon West at wing, who is 25, 5’11”, and 205 pounds. West played for the Canada U20s and the Ontario Blues. He is joined by Johnny Sheridan, 22, 6’0″, another Ontario Blues player. At fullback is Aaron McClelland from New Zealand. He is 25, 5’11”, and 180 pounds and has played with the Maple Leafs 7s and the BC Bears.

The reserves include Jack Rogers, 19, 5’11”, 215, who is a Canada U20s player. Pat Lynott, 24, 5’10”, 240, played with the Ontario Blues. Mike Smith, 22, 6’2″ 240 was a National University All-Star. Josh van Horne is 26, 6’2″, 250 and layed with both Brantford Harlequins and the Guelph Gryphons. Andrew Wilson, 32, 5’11”, 225, has one cap for Canada and has also played with the Ontario Blues.

Rounding out the reserves are Mario van der Westhuizen, 21, 5’9″, 195, (Ontario Blues): Cooper Coats, 21, 5’11” 180, who played with the Atlantic Rock; and Will Kelly, 20, 6”4″, 205 and played for Canada U20s and the Ontario Blues.

Houston SaberCats & Ontario Arrows Squads

Houston SaberCats: 1 Adam Macklin 2 Lindsey Stevens 3 Paul Mullen 4 Charlie Hewitt 5 Robert Meeson 6 Kyle Sumsion (C) 7 Chris Coyle 8 Matt Trouville 9 Connor Murphy 10 Sam Windsor 11Alex Elkins12 Conor Mills 13 Malacchi Esdale 14 Josua Vici 15 Zach Pangelinan 16 Andres Diaz 17 Jake Turnbull 18 Kenneth Hepburn 19 Justin Allen 20 Chris Parker 21 Cecil Garber 22 Pago Haini 23 Osea Kolinisau 24 Dan Paul 25 Kieran Farmer + Head Coach Justin Fitzpatrick

Ontario Arrows: 1. Rob Brouwer 2. Andrew Quattrin 3. Tom Dolezel 4. Mike Sheppard (C) 5. Paul Ciulini 6. Peter Milazzo 7. Marcello Wainwright 8. Kolby Francis 9. Alex Gliksten 10. Shawn Windsor 11. Jon West 12. Jamie Leveridge 13. Mitch Richardson 14. John Sheridan 15. Aaron McLelland 16. Jack McRogers 17. Pat Lynott 18. Mike Smith 19. Josh Van Horne 20. Andrew Wilson 21. Mario Van Der Westhuizen 22. Cooper Coats 23. Will Kelly

Ontario Arrows Staff
Head Coach: Chris Silverthorn
Assistant Coaches: David Butcher, Aaron Carpenter, Cory Hector
General Manager: Mark Winokur
Performance Analyst: Rodin Lozada
Athletic Therapist: Chris Kelly
Team Doctor: Dr. John Gillis