Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Toronto Arrows have confirmed five more returning players for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Uruguayan internationals Manuel Diana and Leandro Leivas are joined by flyhalf Tayler Adams and 2020’s first choice midfield pairing of Guiseppe du Toit and Ben LeSage.
Diana’s return is notable after his performances at Rugby World Cup 2019 and with the Arrows caught the eyes of scouts elsewhere. The 24-year-old No8 started all five games in his first run as a professional and scored two tries, with his ball carrying talents contributing heavily to Toronto’s success.
Fellow Uruguayan export Leivas started four games in his second campaign with the Arrows. He grabbed two tries in the road win over Rugby ATL. Now 32 and with 76 caps for Los Teros, Leivas joins countryman Gastón Mieres in Toronto’s growing South American contingent that currently numbers six for 2021.
Adams, 26, began his professional career as a scrumhalf with Southland and the New Zealand u20 side but has now settled in at flyhalf. In his first MLR campaign he played 98% of all possible minutes for the Arrows and impressed with his wide passing game and eye for the gap.
du Toit and LeSage, both 24, were partnered in the centers for each of Toronto’s five games. Their strong form on both sides of the ball prompted Canada coach Kingsley Jones to suggest that they would have been the preferred combination for the Americas Rugby Championship had COVID-19 not intervened.
The Arrows have now signed 21 players for next season including four newcomers. At least two further additions are expected in the coming weeks with several more established players set to return.
