The Toronto Arrows signed Connor Grindal for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old prop is 5’11” and 230 lbs. He is Canada-eligible through both parents. as his mother is from Montreal and his father Iain in Ontario where he played provincial-level rugby before emigrating to Australia.
Connor played rugby with Sydney University for 5 years beginning in 2016 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology while there. He also played with Gordon in the Sydney Rugby Union Premiership and just completed his first season with the Highlanders.
While at Sydney University, helped lead his 2ndColts side to a junior championship in 2017, and later won the 4th Grade Premiership title in 2019. He also played for the New South Wales Schoolboys representative side in 2016.
Toronto Arrows Comments
“Everything I’ve heard about the Arrows organization has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Grindal. “This is the type of opportunity that gets you up and out of bed in the morning; it energizes you. Rather than dipping a toe in, I want to jump in head-first… I want to go all in and make the most of it.”
“I can’t wait to get to Toronto, to meet my teammates, to focus on how I can personally improve and help the team improve, and to be part of a group that represents Canada and is pulling in the same direction, all aligned on the same goal to win a championship.”
“I still have plenty of family in Scarborough and Montreal, and my uncles and aunts are getting really excited for me to be coming back and playing in Toronto,” added Grindal. “I didn’t grow up in Canada, but with two Canadian parents, I’m proud to have that Canadian DNA. I recognize how special it will be to play for the only Canadian team in Major League Rugby, and the honor that comes with representing an entire nation.”
“We’re very excited to find and sign another Canada-eligible player in Connor Grindal, which is a name that carries some weight in Ontario rugby history,” said Mark Winokur, Toronto Arrows Chief Operating Officer, and General Manager. “Connor is a dynamic young front-rower that we can plug right into the mix.”
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