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The New England Free Jacks have released a preliminary roster of 33 players for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Among the names are ten players new to the expansion side based in Boston who did not appear during the spring exhibition campaign. At least two further additions currently attached to professional sides will be unveiled ‘shortly’ according to a media release.
Former New Zealand Sevens regular Beaudein Waaka headlines the newcomers. The 25-year-old utility back broke into the senior Taranaki squad as a 19-year-old flyhalf in 2013 and spent three seasons on the HSBC Sevens Series from 2014-2017. He was the first choice fullback for Taranaki in last year’s Mitre 10 Cup and most recently has been starting in the midfield for the Manly Marlins in Sydney’s Shute Shield.
Fijian international Naulia Dawai, arrives from Otago, where he returned after a two-year spell with Irish province Connacht in the Guinness Pro Championship. A powerful ball runner who can play across the back row, the 32-year-old made his test debut in June 2016 and won eight caps for Fiji, most recently playing in the win over Scotland in June 2017. Dawai was part of the Asia Pacific Dragons side in the Global Rapid Rugby ‘showcase series’ earlier this year.
He is joined by two further Fijian reps on the incoming list. 25-year-old Poasa Waqanibau, an outside center or wing, joins from the Fijian Drua having also spent two seasons with Canterbury. He played for the Fiji Warriors in the 2015 Pacific Challenge. Loosehead prop Isaac Cavu is Australian born and raised but was part of the victorious Fiji entry at the 2017 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament. He has been playing his club rugby for Queensland Premier side GPS.
The front row will have an international flavor to it as returning props Simon Courcoul and Tony Purpura are also joined by Tongan international Tolu Fahamokioa. The 28-year-old loosehead has been a regular in New Zealand provincial rugby since 2013, representing Wellington and Hawke’s Bay. He made one appearance for the Hurricanes during the 2015 Super Rugby season and made his test debut for the Ikale Tahi against Georgia during last year’s Pacific Nations Cup.
Canadian second row Josh Larsen, 25, makes the jump from Austin Elite. He has won 12 caps since debuting in November 2017 and was a surprise omission in Canada’s squad for the PNC after playing 13 games for the Elite in 2019 and acting as vice-captain. He is one of four players in the side who appeared for Austin last season, the others Courcoul, lock Ronan McCusker, and flyhalf Timothée Guillimin.
More Mitre 10 Cup experience comes in the form of 28-year-old Liam Steel from Bay of Plenty. He was first choice for the Steamers during the 2018 season, largely at outside center though he is comfortable playing across the three-quarter line. A Super Rugby contract has eluded him though he has been part of development squads for both the Blues and Chiefs.
John Poland was the starting scrumhalf for Ireland during the 2016 u20 Six Nations Championship but couldn’t break into the senior Munster squad behind established names Conor Murray and Duncan Williams. He made one Guinness Pro 14 appearance during his three-year stint on a development contract though he was a regular in the British & Irish Cup competition.
A lesser-known name but of high potential is 24-year-old Brad Hemopo. The rampaging No8 has turned heads in New Zealand club rugby and was part of the Crusaders development group, even suiting up for the Super Rugby side during a mid-season friendly in June 2016. He has most recently been playing alongside Waaka with the Manly Marlins. At 6’4″ (1.93m) and 260lbs (119kg) he is a formidable figure who can also slot in at lock if required.
Joining from the Collegiate All-American squad that faced the Canadian University All-Stars last weekend in Colorado is Australia-born utility back Mitch Wilson. Comfortable at center, wing, or fullback, the 23-year-old is a two-time first team All-American with the Life Running Eagles and has represented the USA Select XV at the Americas Pacific Challenge in both 2017 and 2018. He was the starting fullback for the Junior All-Americans at the 2016 World Rugby u20 Trophy in Zimbabwe.
The 33-man squad is as follows:
PROP: Isaac Cavu, Simon Courcoul, Tolu Fahamokioa, Quentin Newcomer, Tony Purpura
HOOKER: Steven Hinshaw, Diego Maquieira, Sean McNulty
LOCK: Conor Kindregan, Josh Larsen, Ronan McCusker, Jackson Thiebes
BACK ROW: Naulia Dawai, Evan Geist, Pago Haini, Brad Hemopo, Owen Hundt, Jon Kokinda
SCRUMHALF: Ollie Engelhart, John Poland, Erik Thompson
FLYHALF: Timothée Guillimin, Tadhg Leader
CENTER: Ahmad Harajly, Peter Lupton, Liam Steel, Poasa Waqanibau
OUTSIDE BACK: Christian Adams, Danny Collins, Stephen Dazzo, Peceli Rinakama
UTILITY BACK: Beaudein Waaka, Mitch Wilson
