The Toronto Arrows re-signed Paul Ciulini for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. During the 2019 season, he played in 16 of the team’s 17 games. The 24-year-old lock (25 in October) is 6’5″and 275 lbs.
Ciulini started all five matches in the truncated 2020 season and has played in all but one match (21) in franchise history. The durable lock has amassed 92 carries, 369 carry meters, 230 tackles (91.6% completion), two tackle-breaks, and one try over his two years with the club.
Ciulini is from Vaughan, Ontario and attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School and was a highly ranked throwing the javelin. After graduation, he went to the University of Toronto majoring in Chemistry and played rugby for the Varsity Blues. He was also selected for the 2015 OUA All-Stars.
Ciulini began playing rugby at an early age with the Aurora Barbarians beginning about 2007 with the Under-12s.
Provincial and Professional Rugby
Paul Ciulini has played for the Rugby Ontario Provincial team, the Ontario Blues, and has played in several Canadian Rugby Championships.
In 2016 he signed an Academy contract with the Perpignan ProD2 in France. During 2018, played exhibition matches with the then Ontario Arrows and was among the first athletes to sign with the Toronto Arrows for the 2019 Major League Rugby season.
National Team
Playing in the Canada National Team program came in 2013, with his selection for the Under-18s tour to Romania. In 2015, He played in the World Rugby Under-20s Trophy competition, winning a silver medal.
Ciulini debuted with the Senior National team against Uruguay on February 6, 2016, in the Americas Rugby Championship. The last of his 8 tests occurred against the U.S. in Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 23, 2018.
He also played for Canada Selects against the Ontario Arrows in Vancouver and Castres in Lacaune, France in 2018 and also in the Americas Pacific Challenge for Canada A.
Currently, the Senior Men’s National Team had two matches in England beating Oxford University on Oct. 31, and Coventry on Nov. 5. With all touring team members needing playing time, Paul played against Oxford and was rested against Coventry.
Paul made his debut for Canada on 6 February 2018 at Langford in the Americas Rugby Championship and the last of his eight tests was against the United States at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 23 June 2018.
Toronto Arrows Comments
Arrows Vice President and General Manager Mark Winokur said that “Paul makes a huge impact for us out there, especially at the breakdown, and is still in the early part of his career. We’re looking for big things from him as he continues his growth.”
Other Articles
DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or subscribe include Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for interviews.
