Toronto Arrows Announce Partnership with Iroquois Roots Rugby

26 February 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, ON – The Toronto Arrows are pleased to announce that the club has partnered with Iroquois Roots Rugby to help share the sport of rugby throughout communities across Ontario.

Iroquois Roots Rugby’s mission is to de​liver an Indigenous-led program that promotes the sport of rugby to First Nations youth in Ontario. The community-driven group has been running free training camps across Ontario for the past two years, helping to reduce barriers to sport participation, promoting physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, and building capacity in the Canadian sport system to be inclusive of Indigenous people.

The grassroots organization seeks to engage Indigenous youth in the sport of rugby while honouring Indigenous culture and recognizing the unique environments of First Nations communities in Ontario.

The partnership will see the Arrows support Iroquois Roots Rugby’s vision to create an appreciation for rugby in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, including offering mentorship and coaching opportunities, providing resources, sharing best practices, and working together to help spread rugby to communities where the sport was not previously prevalent.

Bill Webb, President and General Partner of the Toronto Arrows, stated: “One of our club’s missions is to help grow the sport of rugby in Canada, and partnering with Iroquois Roots Rugby allows us to support an organization that is doing a fantastic job of introducing our sport to new communities and fostering a passion for rugby within hundreds of youth every year. Iroquois Roots Rugby’s drive to spread the values of the game sets a strong benchmark — the organization has plans to visit all 133 First Nations communities in Ontario — and exudes an unwavering commitment to sharing our sport. We’re looking forward to learning from one another.”

Melanie Squire, Co-Founder and Director of Iroquois Roots Rugby, stated: “We’re very excited to be partnering with the Toronto Arrows to grow the sport of rugby in Ontario. The club’s support will go a long way in helping to provide Iroquois Roots Rugby with countless opportunities to give our youth access to mentorship from professional players. Our organization will benefit immensely from this special relationship, and we can’t wait to get started.”

To learn more about Iroquois Roots Rugby, visit: https://www.rootsrugby.org/

About Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club:

The Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club is Canada’s first professional rugby union team.

Competing in Major League Rugby, the team is equipped to compete against top-tier North American club teams, providing emerging Canadian talent with enhanced and more frequent opportunities to hone their skills at an elite level.

For more information, visit https://torontoarrows.com/

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For more information, please contact:

Brock Smith

Communications Manager

Toronto Arrows

416-846-3228

[email protected]