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The Toronto Arrows continue to put the final pieces of their roster for the 2022 Major League Rugby season together. The latest players confirmed are Australia Sevens representative Matthew Hood, trade acquisition James O’Neill, local product Mitch Voralek, and returning lock Mike Sheppard.
A member of the Australian side since 2017, Hood made his World Series debut at Dubai in December of that year. He has featured in seven events including the 2019 Las Vegas tournament. A wing or fullback in the 15-a-side game, the 27-year-old plays for Sydney University in the Shute Shield and holds a Canadian passport though he is not eligible to represent Canada.
O’Neill, 23, was selected in the second round of the 2021 Collegiate Draft by the LA Giltinis and subsequently traded to Toronto in exchange for Ben LeSage. A specialist openside flanker, he comes highly rated having previously captained both the Canada u20 side and more recently the Pacific Pride national development side in the Coastal Cup.
This will be the first season as a professional for Voralek, 24, who is comfortable at flyhalf, center, or fullback. The Waterloo County product notable played for the Ontario Blues against Old Glory in 2019 and in October suited up for the Arrows XV against the Atlantic Selects. Voralek played for the Canada Maple Leafs on the South America Sevens circuit in 2019. He was named Most Valuable Player in the provincial university league in 2018, an award previously won by new Arrows teammates Andrew Quattrin (2017), Lucas Rumball (2015), and Andrew Ferguson (2013).
This will be the fourth MLR campaign for Sheppard, who has been with the Arrows since their inception. The 33-year-old played in 15 of 16 matches this past season, bringing his total to 32 professional games for the side. He won the most recent of his 11 caps for Canada at Rugby World Cup 2019.
