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The New England Free Jacks will play the Connacht Eagles at Union Point Sports Complex on Saturday in the first match of the six-game Cara Cup series. Hosted by the Free Jacks, the series includes development sides of Ireland’s four Guinness Pro franchises, with Leinster, Munster, and Ulster also participating.
Connacht’s side will be led by 6’7″ (2.01m) lock Joe Maksymiw, a former England u18 representative and graduate of the Leicester Tigers academy. He is part of an imposing tight five unit, the other four all capped for Ireland u20. Openside flanker Sean Masterson started against New Zealand in last year’s World Rugby u20 Championship.
The starting halfbacks, Stephen Kerins and Luke Carty, have earned the same age grade distinction. Carty starts for Connacht on the same day his older brother Jack will be on the bench for Ireland against Wales in the Six Nations Championship. Colm de Buitlear is a versatile and creative player who made his Guinness Pro debut earlier this season.
Former Cardiff Blues standout Robin Copeland is named on the bench. The 31-year-old won a test cap for Ireland against Georgia in 2014. Alongside are four more Ireland age grade internationals, England u20 scrumhalf James Mitchell, and flanker James Connolly, now in his fifth season in Connacht’s senior squad.
There are three players set to make their Free Jacks debut, all in the pack. Dolph Botha joins former San Diego Legion teammate Tony Purpura in the front row, and Pago Haini lines up at No8 having played for the Houston SaberCats last season. Former All-Ireland League D1A Player of the Year Conor Kindregan arrives from Cork Constitution to form a beefy second row alongside Jackson Thiebes.
Newly capped Eagles squad member Tadhg Leader captains the side, one of two senior USA internationals along with Purpura. Junior All-American cap Erik Thompson partners Leader with Eagles Sevens cap Ahmad Harajly returning at outside center.
Two more with Major League Rugby experience are on the bench. Former SaberCats hooker Diego Maquieira settles for a secondary role with NOLA Gold utility back Peceli Rinakama set to make his first appearance for the Boston franchise.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific, 7pm GMT. At the time of writing broadcasts are unconfirmed but the game may be available on the Free Jacks Facebook and YouTube channels.
[EDIT: We have now confirmed a live stream will be available. All options added below]
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Tony Purpura, 2 Steven Hinshaw, 3 Dolph Botha, 4 Jackson Thiebes, 5 Conor Kindregan, 6 Owen Hundt, 7 Jon Kokinda, 8 Pago Haini, 9 Erik Thompson, 10 Tadhg Leader (capt.), 11 Stephen Dazzo, 12 Peter Lupton, 13 Ahmad Harajly, 14 Christian Adams, 15 Danny Collins
Replacements: 16 Dave McKenna, 17 Diego Maquieira, 18 Kyle Ciquera, 19 Aaron Cummings, 20 Devin Ibanez, 21 Oliver Engelhart, 22 Owen Collins, 23 Peceli Rinakama, 24 Mike Gieselman, 25 Bryan Ptomey
CONNACHT EAGLES
1 Conan O’Donnell, 2 Jonny Murphy, 3 Conor Kenny, 4 Joe Maksymiw (capt.), 5 Cillian Gallagher, 6 Cian Huxford, 7 Sean Masterson, 8 Neal Moylett, 9 Stephen Kerins, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Mark Balaski, 12 Kieran Joyce, 13 Sean O’Brien, 14 Hugh Lane, 15 Colm de Buitlear
Replacements: 16 Declan Adamson, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Peter Claffey, 19 James Connolly, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Conor Dean, 23 Corey Reid
Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: Facebook, Twitch, Twitter, YouTube
