New England Free Jacks

The New England Free Jacks are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) from Weymouth, Massachusetts. They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018.[1] They competed in their first season in MLR in the 2020 season.

New England Free Jacks
Founded2018
LocationWeymouth, Massachusetts
Ground(s)Union Point Sports Complex (Capacity: 2,000)
CEOAlex Magleby
Coach(es)Ryan Martin
Captain(s)TBA
League(s)Major League Rugby
Official website
www.freejacks.com

History

On September 21, 2018, Major League Rugby announced that Boston would be one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.[2] That same day, the Boston club was announced as the New England Free Jacks through social media. Their first match was on October 20, 2018, against the Ontario Arrows at Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

NFL players, Nate Ebner and Patrick Chung are minority owners of New England Free Jacks.[3][4]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018 Canterbury None
2018–2019 Boathouse
2020–present Paladin Sports

Roster
For player movements before and during the 2021 season, see List of 2020–21 Major League Rugby transfers § New England Free Jacks.

The New England Free Jacks squad for the 2021 Major League Rugby season is:[5]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Steven Hinshaw Hooker United States
Nick Hryekewicz Hooker United States
Pieter Jansen Hooker South Africa
Kyle Ciquera Prop United States
Erich de Jager Prop South Africa
Sef Fa'agase Prop Australia
Kensuke Hatakeyama Prop Japan
Spencer Krueger Prop United States
Quentin Newcomer Prop United States
Xandré Vos Prop South Africa
Conor Kindregan Lock Ireland
Josh Larsen Lock Canada
Ronan McCusker* Lock Ireland
Jackson Thiebes Lock United States
Evan Geist Flanker United States
Justin Johnson Flanker United States
Joe Johnston* Flanker New Zealand
Jack Miller Flanker United States
Jack Ram Flanker Tonga
Tera Mtembu Number 8 South Africa
Player Position Union
Tom Brusati Scrum-half United States
Oliver Engelhart* Scrum-half Hong Kong
John Poland Scrum-half Ireland
Sean Yacoubian Scrum-half Scotland
Harrison Boyle* Fly-half New Zealand
Tadhg Leader Fly-half United States
Harry Barlow* Centre England
Aleki Morris-Lome Centre New Zealand
Liam Steel Centre New Zealand
Danny Collins Wing United States
Dougie Fife Wing Scotland
Poasa Waqanibau Wing Fiji
Beaudein Waaka Fullback New Zealand
Mitch Wilson Fullback United States
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Staff

Staff for 2021 Major League Rugby Season:[6]

Staff PositionName
Head CoachRyan Martin
Assistant CoachKareem Afifi
Performance AnalystTom Kindley
Team ManagerBen Nathan
Head Athletic TrainerKatherine Henry
Physical Performance CoachJared Collinson

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
2020 9th 5104139158-1959  Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic

Head coaches
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Josh Smith United StatesOctober 19, 2018July 28, 2020514020.00
Ryan Martin New ZealandJuly 28, 2020present00000.00

2019 season

All games in the 2019 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
October 20, 2018Ontario ArrowsAwayWanderers GroundsLost, 14–40
December 1, 2018Rugby United New YorkHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 35–38
February 9, 2019Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank Training CenterLost, 15-70
March 16, 2019Connacht A[7]HomeUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 7–38
March 24, 2019Ulster A[7]HomeUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 15-43
April 6, 2019Munster A[7]HomeIrish Cultural Centre GAA FieldLost, 19-38
April 14, 2019Leinster A[7]HomeHarvard Mignone FieldLost, 12-55
May 18, 2019Toronto ArrowsHomeBrophy Field at Dartmouth's
Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse		Postponed
June 1, 2019Lansdowne F.C.HomeIrish Cultural Centre GAA FieldWon, 46-29

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[8] Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled.[9] The Free Jacks finished the short season 9th in the MLR, 6th in the Eastern Conference.[10]

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 18New England IndependentsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 39-7
January 18New England IndependentsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 84-21

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8Rugby United New YorkHomeLas Vegas BallparkWon, 34-14
February 15Utah WarriorsAwaySam Boyd StadiumLost, 33-39
February 23San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumLost, 21-30
February 29Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire SportsLost, 29-44
March 7NOLA GoldAwayThe Gold MineLost, 22-31
March 14Houston SaberCatsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
March 22Rugby ATLAwayLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
April 5Colorado RaptorsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
April 10Toronto ArrowsAwayTBDCancelled
April 18Old Glory DCHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
April 25NOLA GoldHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
May 1Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkCancelled
May 9Austin GilgronisHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
May 16Toronto ArrowsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
May 24Old Glory DCAwayCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 30Rugby ATLHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled

Academy

New England Independents

On January 8, 2020, the Free Jacks announced that they would compete in two preseason matches against the New England Independents, a brand new select team of local All-Star talent representing eight clubs throughout New England.[11] Adam Zilcoski, of the Boston Irish Wolfhounds, was selected as the head coach.

Roster

Squad for 2020 Major League Rugby Preseason:[12][13]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Blades Shields Hooker United States
David McKenna Prop United States
Kyle Ciquera Prop United States
Sean Moran Prop United States
Timmy O’Connor Lock United States
Cody Davidowicz Lock United States
Ryan Hargraves Flanker United States
Paul Taylor Flanker United States
Cam Davidowicz Number 8 United States
Player Position Union
Ian Luciano Scrum-half Australia
Andrew Menton Fly-half United States
Adnan Kawuma Centre United States
Jared Collinson Centre United States
Brad Patterson Wing United States
Andrew Marshall Wing United States
David Buchanan Fullback United States

Regional academies
Club Region
the AlarmBoston
ChampsChamplain
CobblersNorth Shore
Granite HammersSouthern New Hampshire
LightfootsWestern MA
MutineersRhode Island
Night WatchUpper CT
PathfindersCentral MA
Pine RiotersSouthern Vermont & New Hampshire
River RangersUpper Valley
the Sea SerpentsMaine Seacoast
Silver SharksSouth Shore
Whistle PunksNew England North

[14]

Junior Jacks

The Junior Jacks are the youth academy level for the Free Jacks.

References
  1. "New England Free Jacks Roster Announced". The Runner Sports. 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  2. "Major League Rugby confirms Boston and Atlanta for 2020 - Americas Rugby News". Americasrugbynews.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  3. "Patriots Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner embracing roles as Major League Rugby minority owners".
  4. "New England Free Jacks Expand Ownership, Introduce Nate Ebner & Patrick Chung - The Runner Sports".
  5. "New England Free Jacks". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  6. "Staff". New England Free Jacks. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. "Free Jacks To Host Irish Provincial 'A' Sides". Thisisamericanrugby.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  8. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  9. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  10. "Standings". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  11. https://freejacks.com/news/the-new-england-free-jacks-bostons-first-professional-rugby-team-announce-two-free-preseason-matches-in-the-month-of-january-at-union-point-sports-complex/
  12. “1-18-2020 New England Independents Squad”
  13. "1-24-2020 New England Independents Squad”
  14. "FREE JACKS LAUNCH NEW ENGLAND-WIDE ACADEMY". freejacks.com. 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
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