Toronto Arrows vs Rugby New York Preview

The Toronto Arrows host Rugby New York at York Stadium at Noon on May 8. The match will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and internationally on The Rugby Network.

Both teams are in a fight for the playoffs with New York entering the match in third place with a 7-4 record and 37 points. Toronto is in fourth place with a 6-5 record and 30 points.

Rugby New York has a +14 point differential and has scored 40 tries during the season, while the Toronto Arrows have a plus 6 point differential and scored 32 tries. New York also has the best road win record in the league.

Toronto Arrows

The Toronto Arrows were a very formidable opponent at home in 2019 and hope that continues in 2022 in their quest to gain the playoffs.

Toronto has made six changes in the starters and two in the reserves since their loss two weeks ago against the Houston SaberCats. In the forwards, Lolani Faleiva and Tyler Rowland have rotated in at the props with Cole Keith and Isaac Salmon shifting to the reserves. For Faleiva, it is his first MLR start. Tomas de la Vega returns after injury at blindside flanker with Lucas Rumball shifting to openside.

The Toronto Arrows have switched their scrumhalf combo again with both Riley DiNardo and Gordon McRorie returning to their clubs.

Back changes include the debut of former Canadian Under-20 scrumhalf Cole Brown, Matt Hood returning from injury at wing, and Uruguay international Gaston Mieres at fullback. Brown played with the Arrows Senior Academy team last week in New York.

Reserve changes include the Canadian Development team Pacific Pride scrumhalf Sam Reimer and Will Kelly, who played flyhalf last week for the Arrows Academy against the New York Foundry, Rugby New York’s Academy Team.

Rugby New York

Rugby New York demonstrated a tackling clinic where huge hits were the norm of the day against NOLA Gold last Sunday. The team had three players selected for the week 13 All-MLR Team: Dylan Fawsitt, Kara Pryor, and Jack Heighton.

The team also had five players attend the USA Men’s Eagles XVs Camp during the week in Houston. Chance Wenglewski, Dylan Fawsitt, team captain Nate Brakeley, Nick Civetta, and Ben Bonasso were in camp and hope to be included for the July Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers against Chile and the preceding match against the French Barbarians.

Head Coach Marty Veale has made four changes in the starters and another two in the reserves since last week’s win over NOLA Gold. Three of the changes in the starters are in the forwards with Chance Wenglewski starting at loosehead prop, Charlie Hewitt at lock, and Will Tucker returning at blindside flanker. Andrew Coe also returns as right-wing after he and Tucker were cleared to play after HIAs against the Giltinis on April 10.

Veale has opted to go with a 6-2 split in the reserves with Peter Reyes poised to make his MLR debut along with Antonio Kiri Kiri, who joined the team after playing for the Cornish Pirates, Manawatu, the Super Rugby Blues, and New Zealand All Black Sevens.

Both Andrew Coe and Quinn Ngawati will be closely followed by Canadian National Team Coach Kingsley Jones.

It was also significant that Waisake Naholo, who played wing with the New Zealand All Blacks was practicing with the team on Friday and will be a welcome addition to the team.