Toronto Arrows Face LA Giltinis in Gold Mine Doubleheader

The Toronto Arrows will host their 2021 home opener against the LA Giltinis at the Gold Mine on Airline on Saturday, April 10 at 12:30 pm local (1:30 pm ET) as part of a Major League Rugby double-header with NOLA Gold facing Austin Gilronis at 3:30 pm local (4:30 pm ET). The match will be broadcast on Bally Sports West in Los Angeles.

Tomorrow’s match is the first league meeting between Toronto and LA. The Giltinis sits on top of the Western Conference (2-0; 10 points) as they opened their inaugural MLR season with back-to-back home wins over New England and Seattle and are coming off a bye week. The Arrows (1-2; 6 points) won their first match of the season last week, a bonus-point victory over DC after dropping their first two matches to Atlanta and Utah.

The match will be streamed on The Rugby Network in the U.S. and internationally, and available after 24 hours in Canada. The match will be streamed in Canada on TSN.ca, TSN App, with TSN2 joining the broadcast at 2 pm ET while in progress.

Toronto Arrows Director of Rugby Chris Silverthorn has made two changes in his starters from last week’s win over Old Glory DC. Gaston Cortes returns from a week on two-match suspension at tighthead prop with Tyler Rowland moving to the reserves. Manuel Montero also returns at wing for Mitch Richardson after nursing a minor injury last week. Liam Murray, who was on loan to the team last week due to the Cortez suspension and an injury to Chris Atkinson, returned to the Houston SaberCats.

Fifteen internationals are on matchday 23, with a combined cap total of 337 matches.

Nine squad members are full Canadian internationals: Ciulini (8 caps), du Toit (14 caps), Keith (16 caps), Kelly (1 cap), LeSage (16 caps), Parfrey (32 caps), Quattrin (5 caps), Rumball (35 caps), Sheppard (11 caps)
Four squad members are full Argentinian internationals: Cortes (5 caps), de la Vega (12 caps), Montero (27 caps), Tuculet (56 caps)
Two squad members are full Uruguayan internationals: Diana (27 caps), Mieres (72 caps)

LA Giltinis Head coach Darren Coleman made five changes in the starters for the match against the Toronto Arrows. These were partially due to injuries to JP Smith (knee), Bill Meakes (fractured cheekbone), Marco Fepulea’i (knee), and Luke Carty (hamstring), as well as providing a week off for Christian Poidevin and Lindsey Stevens.

Harry McNulty, who missed training camp, which was held in Maui due to waiting for visa approval, will have the opportunity to play professionally for the first time with his brother Sean, should he enter the match. Harry joined the team after playing for Ireland’s rugby sevens team. His brother Sean, who qualifies for the USA on the 10-year residency rule, last played in a match with his brother while with University College Dublin, several years ago.

“To play with my brother will be like a little dream come true. It was one of the main reasons to make the move to the Giltinis because I didn’t want regrets about not doing it in 20 years,” Harry, 28, said.

“It’s once-in-a-lifetime at the same professional club so this chance to play together has been a huge factor,” said Sean, 25, who is a reserve.

DTH van der Merwe, who scored twice during the team’s opening match, returns after a week off for a minor injury and a bye week at wing. Prop Blake Rogers, lock Corey Thomas, and inside center, Luke Burton moved into the starts from the reserves.

Three reserve changes include Frikkie de Beer at tighthead prop, Nathan Den Hoedt at lock, and Pago Haini in the back-row, with Luke White moving from starting at lock to providing cover at loosehead prop as a reserve.

While the Arrows utilize a traditional 5-3 split in the reserves (forwards/backs), the Giltinis have selected a 6/2 split for their replacements.

The match features last year’s Eastern Conference leaders the Toronto Arrows against Western Conference title contenders, the LA Giltinis. This is certainly a match not to be missed.