Pete Smith is no longer Head Coach of the Toronto Arrows. The Australian’s tenure has come to a close after two tumultuous seasons in charge and five all told with the Arrows, the first three as an Assistant Coach under the club’s first Head Coach Chris Silverthorn.
Smith’s first year in charge saw the club finishing with an 8-8 record, which saw them finishing 4th in the Eastern Conference but 15 points out of a playoff spot. This past year marked a considerable drop in fortunes, however, as the Arrows finished at the bottom of the overall table with just one victory and two draws in 16 games.
Injuries presented a challenge to Smith over both seasons. In 2022 he was forced to use 9 different players at the crucial scrumhalf position. This past year saw preferred players at several positions unavailable for weeks at a time.
A record-setting loss to the New England Free Jacks at home in April marked the low point of the season, and the team would never recover. The Arrows finished the season with zero victories from their eight games in Toronto and the results meant a change in direction was inevitable.
Arrows GM Tim Matthews has begun the search for a new Head Coach. It remains to be seen if any of the current coaching staff return in 2024. Assistant Coach François Ratier has already departed, taking up a Director of Rugby role with French elite women’s side Stade Bordelais.
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