New England Free Jacks

The New England Free Jacks are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in the Greater Boston area. 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
LocationQuincy, Massachusetts
Ground(s)Veterans Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 5,000)
CEOAlex Magleby
Coach(es)Scott Mathie
Captain(s)Josh Larsen
League(s)Major League Rugby
20214th (Eastern Conference)
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
2020–2021 Paladin Sports
2022 Alloy

Roster
For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § New England Free Jacks.

The New England Free Jacks squad for the 2022 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
Foster DeWitt Hooker Canada
Pieter Jansen Hooker South Africa
Connor Robinson Hooker United States
Mills Sanerivi Hooker New Zealand
Kyle Ciquera Prop United States
Erich de Jager Prop South Africa
Alex Johnston* Prop New Zealand
Spencer Krueger Prop United States
Quentin Newcomer Prop United States
Tevita Sole Prop Tonga
Javon Camp-Villalovos Lock United States
Josh Larsen (c) Lock Canada
Reegan O'Gorman Lock Canada
Stan van den Hoven Lock Netherlands
Mikaea Wynyard Lock United States
Wian Conradie Back row Namibia
Cam Davidowicz Back row United States
Ethan Fryer Back row Canada
Justin Johnson Back row United States
Joe Johnston* Back row New Zealand
Slade McDowall Back row New Zealand
Jesse Parete Back row New Zealand
Terrell Peita Back row New Zealand
Player Position Union
Ollie Engelhart* Scrum-half Hong Kong
John Poland Scrum-half Ireland
Zachary Short (loan) Scrum-half United States
Sean Yacoubian Scrum-half United States
Holden Yungert Scrum-half United States
Harrison Boyle* Fly-half New Zealand
Patrick Sheehy Fly-half United States
Beaudein Waaka Fly-half New Zealand
Ewan Brumwell* Centre New Zealand
Shane Fata Centre United States
Le Roux Malan Centre Namibia
Jack Reeves Centre England
Wayne van der Bank Centre South Africa
Paula Balekana Wing Fiji
Harry Barlow Wing United States
Zach Bastres Wing United States
Isaac Olson Wing Canada
Dougie Fife Fullback Scotland
Mitch Wilson Fullback United States
  • Senior 15s 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.

Head coaches
  • Josh Smith (2018–2020)
  • Ryan Martin (2020–2021)
  • Scott Mathie (2021-present)[6]

Captains

Leadership

Staff for 2022 Major League Rugby Season:[7]

Staff PositionName
Head CoachScott Mathie
Assistant CoachMike Rogers
Performance DirectorTom Kindley

Owners[8]

PositionName
Co-Founder, Owner and CEOAlex Magleby
Co-Founder, Owner and ChairmanErrik Anderson
Owner and Board MemberDavid Barry
Owner and Board MemberJonathan Bobbett
OwnerPatrick Chung
OwnerNate Ebner

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
2020 9th 5104139158-1959  Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 6th 16 10 0 6 360 332 +28 8 48 Missed Playoffs

Head coaches
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Josh Smith United StatesOctober 19, 2018July 28, 2020514020.0
Ryan Martin New ZealandJuly 28, 2020July 18, 202116106062.5
Scott Mathie South AfricaSeptember 9, 2021present

2019 season

All games in the 2019 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings; the team played to a record of 1–7, losing their first seven games and winning their final match of the season.

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[9]HomeUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 7–38
March 24, 2019Ulster A[9]HomeUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 15–43
April 6, 2019Munster A[9]HomeIrish Cultural Centre GAA FieldLost, 19–38
April 14, 2019Leinster A[9]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 COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled.[11] The Free Jacks finished the short season 9th in the MLR, 6th in the Eastern Conference.[12]

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

Regular season

The team accrued a 1–4 record before the season was halted.

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

2021 season

The Free Jacks' first game of the 2021 season was played on March 20, facing LA Giltinis in Los Angeles.[13]

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 20LA GiltinisAwayLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumLost, 27–42
March 27Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumWon, 32-0
April 3Utah WarriorsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 22-21
April 17NOLA GoldAwayShrine on AirlineLost, 30-29
April 25Old Glory DCAwaySegra FieldLost, 29-35
May 1San Diego LegionAwayLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumWon, 33-17
May 8Austin GilgronisHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 22-18
May 15Rugby ATLAwayLife UniversityLost, 18-33
May 23Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkLost, 19-29
May 29Toronto ArrowsHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 14-12
June 6Old Glory DCHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 38-34
June 13Seattle SeawolvesHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 25-21
June 27NOLA GoldHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 9-17
July 3Rugby United New YorkHomeUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 22-6
July 11Toronto ArrowsAwayLife UniversityWon, 28-17
July 18Rugby ATLHomeVeterans Memorial StadiumWon, 22-19

Source:[14]

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 5New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 24-13
February 18Old Glory DCAwayWon, 41-25
February 27LA GiltinisAwayLost, 15-19
March 6Rugby United NYAwayWon, 38-29
March 12Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 21-15
March 19Austin GilgronisAwayWon, 25-17
March 26Rugby ATLAwayWon, 41-27
April 2New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 33-29
April 9Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 24-22
April 24Rugby United NYAwayWon, 29-26
April 30Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 33-17
May 7Old Glory DCHome
May 13Rugby ATLHome
May 19Toronto ArrowsAway
May 29New Orleans GoldHome
June 3Rugby United NYHome

Source:[15]

Entertainment

Mascot

On May 7, 2021, the Free Jacks announced a mascot, Woodgy, a furry blue creature with rugby headband tape who wears rugby gear, specifically Free Jacks rugby jerseys and shorts.[16]

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.[17] Adam Zilcoski, of the Boston Irish Wolfhounds, was selected as the head coach.

Roster

Squad for 2020 Major League Rugby Preseason:[18][19]

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

[20]

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 6 December 2021.
  6. "Free Jacks Appoint Scott Mathie Head Coach and Mike Rogers Senior Assistant". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  7. "Staff". New England Free Jacks. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  8. "Leadership". New England Free Jacks. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  9. "Free Jacks To Host Irish Provincial 'A' Sides". Thisisamericanrugby.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  10. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  11. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  12. "Standings". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  13. Banks, Doug (March 20, 2021). "Professional rugby team New England Free Jacks to debut in Massachusetts". masslive.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  14. "2021 Scheduled". freejacks.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  15. "2022 Scheduled". freejacks.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  16. "𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙜𝙮 – 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚍 | New England Free Jacks". Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  17. "The New England Free Jacks, Boston's First Professional Rugby Team, Announce Two Free Preseason Matches In The Month Of January At Union Point Sports Complex | New England Free Jacks". Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  18. “1-18-2020 New England Independents Squad”
  19. "1-24-2020 New England Independents Squad”
  20. "FREE JACKS LAUNCH NEW ENGLAND-WIDE ACADEMY". freejacks.com. 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
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