Ontario Arrows & Boston Mystics

The Ontario Arrows will host the Boston Mystics in their home opener at York University on May 5 at 4:30 pm EDT. On April 21, the teams met in Maiden, MA with the Arrows winning 29-19.

For those who can not attend the match, it will be streamed on the Ontario Arrows YouTube Channel.

During halftime, the team is showcasing an Ontario Junior Women’s Selects match. Athletes from 10 Ontario rugby clubs and programs will be featured. Tickets are available for the match and all U16s are free. Tickets are $15 online / $20 at door.

Both the Ontario Arrows and the Boston Mystics will end their 2018 professional rugby season. Mystic River Rugby Club will move on next week to play the winner of Rocky Gorge and the Norfolk Blues in the USA Rugby D1 Championships at the Fortress in Obetz, Ohio.

Rugby Canada Update

A two match series against @OntarioArrows has been announced for May 18 in Toronto, ON & May 26 in Langford, BC for Canada Selects in preparation for our upcoming 2018 Summer Series.

Ontario Arrows

Ontario Arrows head coach Chris Silverthorn has made four changes in his squad from the first meeting against the Boston Mystics. Jack McRogers will be at hooker, Andrew Ferguson at scrumhalf, Mitch Richardson at inside center and Shawn Windsor at fullback. Cam Sandison will also make his debut as a reserve.

The Arrows have six players that have started all five matches in Ciulini, Dolezel, Francis, Milazzo, Sheppard, and Sheridan. Six players have been capped for Canada: Rob Brouwer (9), Tom Dolezel (16), Paul Ciulini (6), Andrew Ferguson (9), Kainoa Lloyd (6), and reserve Andrew Wilson (1). Seven players have also previously played with the U20s in Ciulini (2015), Ferguson (2011, 2012), Kelly (2017), McRogers (2017), Milazzo (2016), Richardson (2016), West (2012).

Silverthorn said in an Ontario Arrows Press Release that “After four matches on the road to start our season, we can’t wait to play in front of our home fans in Toronto this Saturday,” said Silverthorn. “The support we’ve received this year has been incredible. We know there’s a huge appetite for elite-level rugby in Ontario, and our team has really benefited from the boost we’ve been getting from our fans back home. This Saturday, we’ll know we’ll enjoy a home-field advantage from our supporters.”

“We know it’ll be a tough test against Boston, as they’ll be looking to even things up after our match two weeks ago, but our players have been putting in the hard yards in training these past two weeks, and they’re up to the task,” Silverthorn added. “The forecast is calling for perfect rugby weather, and with no ice in sight, we’re looking forward to putting in a strong, entertaining 80 minutes for our fans.”

Boston Mystics

Boston Mystics Head Coach Josh Smith has not made any changes in his starting XV. He has made three changes in the reserves, as Jon Kokinda, Cody Davidowicz, and Adnan Kawuma will look to contribute when needed.

Two weeks ago the Ontario Arrows traveled to play the Boston Mystics, winning 29-19 in Pine Banks. Last week, Mystic River Rugby Club beat NYAC 48-22 and hope this momentum will continue against the Arrows.

The match will also be a good test for the players as the team turns its attention to the USA Rugby D1 Nationals. The team will play the winner of this weekend’s match between Rocky Gorge and the Norfolk Blues.

Ontario Arrows & Boston Mystics Squads

Ontario Arrows: 1 Rob Brouwer 2 Jack McRogers 3 Tom Dolezel 4 Mike Sheppard (C) 5 Paul Ciulini 6 Marcello Wainwright 7 Peter Milazzo 8 Kolby Francis 9 10 Will Kelly 11 John Sheridan 12 Mitch Richardson 13 Jon West 14 Kainoa Lloyd 15 Shawn Windsor 16 Cam Sandison 17 Pat Lynott 18 Mike Smith 19 Josh Van Horne 20 Andrew Wilson 21 Alex Gliksten 22 Kyle Lagasca 23 Cooper Coats + Head Coach Chris Silverthorn

Boston Mystics: 1 Dave McKenna, 2 Jeff Laflamme, 3 Pino Maupese, 4 Andrew Burns, 5 Michael Kaivelata, 6 Chris Frazier, 7 Devin Ibanez, 8 Owen Hundt, 9 Ian Luciano, 10 Santiago Bertranou, 11 Vini Daley, 12 Matías de Paolis, 13 Paulo Aukuso, 14 Stephen Dazzo, 15 Jared Collinson 116 Gianni Miceli, 17 Greg Rasmuson, 18 Scott Lucas, 19 Jon Kokinda, 20 Cody Davidowicz, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Mike Rudzinsky, 23 Adnan Kawuma + Head Coach Josh Smith