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The Toronto Arrows have completed the signing of Canada ‘A’ lock Adrian Wadden for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. A native of Mississauga, Ontario, the 23-year-old returns to Canada after a three-year spell with Leeds Beckett University in England.
Wadden played his youth rugby with Oakville Crusaders before spending two seasons with the McMaster Marauders in Ontario’s top university division. He earned international honors with Canada at u20 level in both 2015 and 2016, playing alongside new Arrows teammates Andrew Quattrin, Paul Ciulini, Lucas Rumball, Mitch Richardson, and Guiseppe du Toit.
An immediate call-up to Canada’s entry in the 2016 Americas Pacific Challenge followed and a spot on the senior ‘A’ tour to the UK. He was then named in the Canada Selects touring squad that played against French Top 14 champions Castres Olympique and Clermont Auvergne in August 2018.
Playing in the BUCS Super League that features numerous professional academy players, Wadden has been a three-year starter at Leeds Beckett. The team came up short against Hartpury in the 2019 Championship Final but redeemed themselves earlier this year with Wadden earning man-of-the-match honors against the defending champions in January.
At 6’6″ (1.98m) Wadden brings height and athleticism to the Arrows pack with the ability to cover blindside flanker as well as second row. While much of the 2020 squad is expected to remain intact, the team says more signings for 2021 will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
