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Oh what might have been. When the 2020 Major League Rugby season ran aground the Arrows looked on course for a potential date with the San Diego Legion in the Championship Final. The pandemic’s timing could not have been worse in that regard. It has also wreaked havoc on this season’s plans with the team forced to relocate temporarily to Atlanta.
2020 RECORD: 4-1 (1st East, 2nd Overall)
HEAD COACH: Having been with the team since its inception, Chris Silverthorn is in his fourth year in charge of the Arrows. This season the staff have welcomed former Wales and Lions coach Rob Howley as an assistant, who by all accounts has made a significant impact in preseason training.
CAPTAIN: Vice-captain a year ago, flanker Lucas Rumball is a natural successor to the retired Dan Moor. He won’t be leading alone however. Rising to the rank of co-captain is outside center Ben LeSage. Leadership won’t be in short supply with the likes of Tomás de la Vega and another notable mentioned below helping to set high standards.
STAR PLAYER: A year ago there was no obvious choice here. This time there are to two former Pumas stars to choose from. Impressive as Manuel Montero is, there is no question that Joaquín Tuculet is the prize addition in the off-season. The vastly experienced fullback could have chosen any league in the world to play in.
KEY DEPARTURE: Three names come to mind. Starting prop Richie Asiata, captain Dan Moor, and fullback Sam Malcolm. We’re opting for ‘Sammy the Boot’ as the most significant. A consummate professional, his game-changing goal kicking talents are one thing that hasn’t really been replaced.
SMART SIGNING: Prior to Asiata’s departure Gastón Cortes might have been considered more of a mentor for tighthead props Cole Keith and Tyler Rowland. That hasn’t necessarily changed, but Cortes is now set to feature more prominently with Keith moving across to the No1 shirt. The Argentine international will not be a welcome sight for opposing looseheads.
ONE TO WATCH: We’d like to name a few players who will be challenging for test debuts but ‘one’ means one so we’ll opt for Siaki Vikilani. A powerhouse loose forward who graduates from the Canada u20 and Pacific Pride programs, he turned heads at the senior high performance camp in the fall and at just 20 years old has a bright future ahead.
STRENGTHS: Continuity is a recipe for success in a league with such significant turnover. Aforementioned departures aside this is the same group as last year with some notable upgrades. The team has been preparing physically for months and looks to be in tip top shape. As with last year, a well-rounded group with good depth across the board.
CONCERNS: The front row has a new addition but still looks potentially a body or two short for the trip south. Otherwise the questions are straightforward. How quickly can they get up to speed with no preseason games, and how will they adapt to what could be a season-long road trip?
OUTLOOK: Most pundits have the Arrows either as favorites or at the very least challengers for top spot in the East. We are not about to diverge from that prediction. As long as they can stay mentally focused while living out of a suitcase, Toronto are genuine title contenders.
