Toronto vice-captain Mike Sheppard set to win 50th cap for Arrows

Photo: The Canadian Press

Veteran forward Mike Sheppard is set to make his 50th appearance for the Toronto Arrows on Saturday when the Major League Rugby team visits Old Glory D.C.

The 33-year-old from Brampton, Ont., slots into the second row in coach Peter Smith's starting lineup. That allows Mason Flesch to shift to the back row in place of the injured Travis Larsen.

Sheppard, the club's vice-captain who has come off the bench in the first three games of the season, will become the second Arrow to hit the 50-appearance milestone with the club, tying Paul Ciulini for the franchise record.

Fabian Goodall replaces Avery Oitomen on the wing for the Arrows, who recorded their first win of the season last Saturday with New Zealand fly half Sam Malcolm accounting for all the points in a 27-26 victory over the expansion Chicago Hounds.

Malcolm is poised to earn his 40th cap Saturday, becoming the sixth Arrow to do so.

Toronto (1-2-0. five points) is bottom of the six-team Eastern Conference while Old Glory (1-2-0, seven points) is fourth. Toronto is 4-1-0 all-time against the Washington, D.C., team including 2-0 at Segra Field.

The Arrows are playing the first six games on the season on the road before hosting the defending champion New York Ironworkers on April 8 at York Lions Stadium.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2023