Arrows boost Canadian University All-Stars against USA

Five members of the Toronto Arrows have been named in the Canadian University All-Stars side to play in the first annual match against the USA Collegiate All-Americans in Glendale on Saturday. The team also has connections on staff with Arrows assistants David Butcher and Cory Hector named as coaches.

Loosehead prop Pat Lynott, hooker Jack McRogers, flanker Marcello Wainwright, scrumhalf Riley DiNardo, and midfielder Mitch Richardson all saw action during the 2019 Major League Rugby season. They will be expected to provide leadership in front of a hostile crowd at Infinity Park.

A number of Canadian age-grade internationals are named with 2018 u20 captain James O’Neill set to wear the No7 shirt. Other notables include Canadian Rugby Championship veterans Charles DeBove and Cully Quirke, with 6’5″ (1.95m) St. FX winger Jack McCarthy the only player representing Atlantic Canada.

Two-time defending national champions UBC provide six players though it’s understood others invited were forced to drop out. 2018 Finalists and Ontario champions Queen’s have five players named, with three Concordia forwards joining DeBove as Quebec inclusions.

The match will be played as a curtain-raiser for the Pacific Nations Cup test between the USA and Canada. Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 2pm Pacific, 5pm Eastern. Tickets are available now on the USA Rugby site. The match will be broadcast live by NBC Sports Gold.

FORWARDS
Julian Alexander (Concordia), Pat Lynott (Queen’s), Stephen Martinez (Concordia), Conor O’Flaherty (UBC), Sam Turner (UBC), Jack McRogers (McMaster), Trevor Helgason (Queen’s), Nolan Howell (UBC), Izzak Kelly (UBC), Matt Fish (Laurier), Jackson Marquardt (Concordia), James O’Neill (UVic), Marcello Wainwright (Guelph)

BACKS
Riley DiNardo (Guelph), Josh Engelbrecht (Queen’s), Max Radcliffe (UBC), Mitch Richardson (McMaster), Conor Byron (UBC), Charles DeBove (Concordia), Flynn Heyes (UBC), Cully Quirke (Queen’s), Ethan Hager (UVic), Sam Ibbotson (Queen’s), Jack McCarthy (St. FX)