The Ontario Arrows have confirmed a squad of 23 to travel south for the match again the Houston SaberCats on Saturday. It’s the first of six matches currently scheduled by the Arrows, who will use the series to give elite Canadian domestic players opportunities against high level opposition while also eyeing a move towards Major League Rugby.

Heavily populated by members of the Ontario Blues side from the Canadian Rugby Championship, the squad includes four capped internationals and a number of national u20 and senior ‘A’ level representatives. Five players have yet to play in the CRC and three are brought in from outside Ontario.

Alex Gliksten is the most notable of the new names. The 20-year-old scrumhalf arrives from the academy program of Aviva Premiership club Saracens. Atlantic Rock flyhalf Cooper Coats joins from Halifax, and New Zealand-born BC Bears fullback Aaron McLelland arrives from Vancouver.

This will be the second time McLelland will make the trip, having been part of the UBCOB Ravens side that upset the SaberCats last month. Second row Paul Ciulini and midfielder Mitch Richardson have also been in Houston recently playing for James Bay.

Canadian University Championship All-Stars Mike Smith and Kolby Francis make the team, with the latter set to run out as a back row forward after playing as a reserve lock for the Blues last season. His Brantford Harlequins clubmate Josh van Horne makes the side, one of three members of the McCormick Cup champions named along with Canada u20 flyhalf Will Kelly.

Blues veterans Rob Brouwer and Tom Dolezel will bookend the front row with a pair of Aurora Barbarians and Canada u20 hookers selected in AJ Quattrin and Jack McRogers. Canada ‘A’ second row Mike Sheppard has been appointed captain for the six-game series, taking over from Brouwer who led the team in their first ever match against the Glendale Merlins in September.

Meanwhile the Arrows have also confirmed their match against Rugby United New York on March 17 will take place at Mazzella Field on New Rochelle’s Iona College campus. The match against the Utah Warriors, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 7, will now be played on Friday, April 6 at Zions Bank Stadium.

A full schedule and detailed roster list can be seen here.

FORWARDS

Rob Brouwer (Lindsay), Tom Dolezel (London St. George’s), Pat Lynott (Bytown Blues), Mike Smith (Toronto Scottish), Jack McRogers (Aurora Barbarians), AJ Quattrin (Aurora Barbarians), Paul Ciulini (Aurora Barbarians), Mike Sheppard (capt., Stoney Creek Camels), Josh van Horne (Brantford Harlequins), Kolby Francis (Brantford Harlequins), Peter Milazzo (Toronto Saracens), Marcello Wainwright (Toronto Saracens), Andrew Wilson (Oakville Crusaders)

BACKS

Alex Gliksten (Saracens, UK), Mario van der Westhuizen (Guelph Redcoats), Will Kelly (Brantford Harlequins), Cooper Coats (Halifax Tars), Shawn Windsor (Stoney Creek Camels), Jamie Leveridge (Oakville Crusaders), Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek Camels), Johnny Sheridan (Markham Irish), Jon West (Oakville Crusaders), Aaron McLelland (UBCOB Ravens)

Head Coach – Chris Silverthorn

Assistant Coaches – David Butcher, Aaron Carpenter, Cory Hector

General Manager – Mark Winokur

Performance Analyst – Rodin Lozada

Athletic Therapist – Chris Kelly

Team Doctor – Dr. John Gillis