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The classic rivalry between New York and Toronto resumes on Sunday in Jersey City. Though both teams joined Major League Rugby in 2019, their history dates back to 2018 when the two sides faced off in New Rochelle. It was the first ever exhibition match for Rugby United New York, with the Arrows still flying under the Ontario banner.
Both matches played during the 2019 regular season were tense affairs with the home sides victorious by slim margins. On each occasion it was late scores that secured the result – a 79th-minute try from John Quill at MCU Park and a 77th-minute drop goal by Sam Malcolm. Both players have since moved on but many remain with clear memories of those days.
More recently the two sides held a controlled scrimmage at the Buffalo Bills field house in Orchard Park prior to the 2020 campaign. That will have been a short drive for the Arrows from Toronto, but this time they will have the odd sensation of flying north from their temporary locale in Georgia.
Toronto enter on the back of a record-setting performance against Seattle in Marietta. It was a welcome result after the below-par showing against LA the week before. There will be a quiet confidence within the group while at the same time recognizing that playing New York on their home turf is a very different proposition to the struggling Seawolves.
Only one personnel change has been made to the Arrows lineup. Mike Sheppard is fit to resume duties after being rested against Seattle. He partners Paul Ciulini in the second row with last week’s debutante Mason Flesch dropping to the reserves.
For their part New York are now on a two-game win streak after beating DC at the same venue last weekend. It wasn’t their sharpest effort defensively but they found success on attack with their driving maul among the most threatening offensive weapons in MLR.
As with Toronto there is just one change to the New York pack. It’s a straight swap at tighthead prop with Samu Tawake taking over the starting role and Zak Taulafo named in the reserves. The backs are a different story.
Andy Ellis is surprisingly left on the bench to start with Conor McManus handed his first MLR start at scrumhalf. Quinn Ngawati and Troy Lockyear move from the outside backs to the midfield, and it’s all change out wide with Apenisa Cakaubalavu, Luke Hume, and Ben Foden comprising the back three.
The extra travel certainly favors New York and with rain on the forecast the maul potentially becomes more significant. Toronto’s backline was firing on all cylinders against Seattle. If conditions allow that could be a factor in their favor. All told the home side are betting favorites in a fascinating contest between two East Conference heavyweights.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local, 11am Pacific. Live broadcasts will be available on TSN 2 in Canada, with The Rugby Network streaming abroad. MSG Network will air a delayed broadcast on Monday morning.
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Samu Tawake, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Nate Brakeley, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu, 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Troy Lockyear, 14 Luke Hume, 15 Ben Foden
Replacements: 16 Wilton Rebolo, 17 Anthony Parry, 18 Zak Taulafo, 19 Kyle Sumsion, 20 Evan Mintern, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Harry Bennett, 23 Joel Miranda
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Cole Keith, 2 Jack McRogers, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball (co-capt.), 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Manuel Montero, 12 Patrick Parfrey, 13 Ben LeSage (co-capt.), 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Gastón Cortes, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Marcello Wainwright, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Leandro Leivas, 23 Spencer Jones
Date: Sunday, April 25
Venue: Cochrane Stadium, Jersey City
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Miles McIvor (USA) & tbd
Broadcasts: MSG Network (delayed), The Rugby Network, TSN 2
Historical Results
2019-06-02 Toronto Arrows 22, Rugby United New York 20 (Lamport Stadium)
2019-03-15 – Rugby United New York 24, Toronto Arrows 21 (MCU Park)
