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The Toronto Arrows have signed two young Canadian prospects ahead of Thursday’s departure to their temporary home in Atlanta. Front row Chris Atkinson and flanker Mason Flesch have signed on for the 2021 Major League Rugby season, both joining from Canada’s Pacific Pride development program.
Atkinson is the elder of the two at 23 and hails from Surrey, British Columbia. A standout football player in high school, he is primarily a tighthead prop but will provide cover across the front row. Prior to joining the Pride this past fall he played for Burnaby Lake in the BC Premier League.
At just 21 Flesch is still growing into his 6’5″ (1.95m) frame. He is a product of the Cobourg Saxons and Ontario age grade programs and represented Canada at the 2019 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament. Athletic and aggressive, he is comfortable at either flanker position which suits the Arrows practice of playing left and right rather than blind and openside.
The two arrivals fill pressing needs on the Arrows roster. Hooker Steven Ng has been ruled out for an extended period due to injury with young back row Siaki Vikilani set to miss the start of the season. The front row was already depleted with the departure of Richie Asiata while flanker Peter Milazzo has opted out due to medical reasons.
