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US Eagles prop Tony Purpura will suit up for the New England Free Jacks in their open scrimmage against Rugby United New York on Saturday. The 32-year-old returns to his home state after spending the 2018 Major League Rugby campaign with the San Diego Legion. Prior to that Purpura spent a season in New York with Old Blue.
There are 13 players named who did not appear for the Free Jacks in their inaugural match against the Ontario Arrows in Halifax. Other notable additions are former Houston SaberCats scrumhalf Chris Slater and Eagles Sevens international Ahmad Harajly. The latter was also a standout at center or fullback for the Ohio Aviators in 2016.
Diego Maquieira and Tadhg Leader remain with the team but four players have jumped to MLR sides with three in line to play for New York this weekend. Prop Anthony Parry, second row Myles McQuone, and flanker Matt Hughston could become the first players to play for and against the Free Jacks, a unique accomplishment given this is only the second ever match for New England.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time at Union Point Sports Complex in South Weymouth. Admission is free.
[EDIT: A live stream will now be available on YouTube.]
FORWARDS
Peter Haxton, Dave McKenna, Sean Moran, Tony Purpura, Mani Young, Steven Hinshaw, Devin Ibanez, Diego Maquieira, Alex Czajkowski, Ronan McCusker, Jackson Thiebes, Josh Brown, Chris Frazier, Owen Hundt, Dan Jones, Jon Kokinda, Thor LaFromboise
BACKS
Chris Slater, Erik Thompson, Tadhg Leader, Bryan Michel, Mike Rudzinsky. Peter Lupton, Adnan Kawuma, Karl Rempe, Christian Adams, Stephen Dazzo, Terrance Williams, Danny Collins, Ahmad Harajly
