Arrows Add to the Front Row
On Thursday afternoon the Toronto Arrows bolstered their front row with two new signings. First, the Arrows announced the return of veteran loosehead prop Rob Brouwer to the club. The second signing comes on the heels of the Rugby Canada High-Performance Camp as the Arrows have inked Pacific Pride prop, Marc-Antoine Ouellet.
The announcement of Brouwer signing comes just four days after the birth of his new baby Edie was announced! I doubt you can find someone having a better week than Rob Brouwer right now. The Arrows have the best scrum in Major League Rugby and Brouwer is a huge reason why. Brouwer was phenomenal in the Arrows’ inaugural season and ultimately took home All MLR 1st XV honours at the loosehead position.
Brouwer returned in 2020, but only played in two games during the abbreviated season. One of those games was against Rugby ATL where Brouwer, Andrew Quattrin, and Cole Keith completely dominated and overmatched RATL pack to fuel victory after trailing at the half. Brouwer entered the game at the 57min mark and quickly proved why he was considered the league’s top loosehead prop in 2019. In addition, to be known as one of the best scrummagers in the league, Brouwer also scored two tries and has demonstrated elite defensive skills.
By all accounts, Ouellet was quite impressive at the Rugby Canada High-Performance Camp. Of course, that camp featured a massive Arrows contingent both with players and coaching staff. The tighthead prop appears to have made a big impression on the Arrows as he now signs his first pro rugby contract. Ouellet is a cross-over athlete coming over from the sport of football.
As a defensive lineman with the famed Laval Rouge et Or program, Ouellet saw plenty of success on the gridiron including winning the Vanier Cup in 2016. Since transitioning to rugby, Ouellet has suited up for Club de Rugby de Québec and the Pacific Pride program. Ouellet becomes the first Québec born player to sign with the Toronto Arrows.
The Arrows scrum that has been so dominant these past two is set up to be the top scrum in the league once again. Brouwer, the best loosehead of 2019, returns alongside Cole Keith, the best tighthead of 2020. Canadian national team hooker Andrew Quattrin will once again don the number 2 jersey. Other returning front-rowers are Richie Asiata, Steven Ng, Tyler Rowland, and Jack McRogers. Ouellet will join Los Pumas tighthead Gastón Cortés as the new additions to the squad. Ultimately, this creates one of the top front row groups in MLR.
The Toronto Arrows roster for 2021 is now as follows:
Forwards
Prop- Richie Asiata Prop- Rob Brouwer Prop- Gastón Cortés Prop- Cole Keith Prop- Marc-Antoine Ouellet Prop- Tyler Rowland Hooker- Jack McRogers Hooker- Steven Ng Hooker- Andrew Quattrin Lock- Paul Ciulini Lock/No8- Kolby Francis Lock- Mike Sheppard Lock- Adrian Wadden Flanker- Tomás de la Vega Flanker- Lucas Rumball Flanker- Siaki Vikilani Flanker- Marcello Wainwright No8- Manuel Diana
Backs
Scrumhalf- Andrew Ferguson Scrumhalf- Jason Higgins Flyhalf- Tayler Adams Flyhalf- Will Kelly Centre- Guiseppe du Toit Centre- Spencer Jones Centre- Ben LeSage Centre- Mitch Richardson Wing- Leandro Leivas Wing- Manuel Montero Wing- John Sheridan Fullback/Flyhalf- Juan Cruz González Fullback/Wing- Gastón Mieres Fullback/Flyhalf- Patrick Parfrey Fullback/Flyhalf- Joaquín Tuculet Fullback/Flyhalf- Shawn Windsor
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