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The New England Free Jacks have added experienced midfielder Sam Beard to their roster for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. A native of Timaru, New Zealand, the 29-year-old arrives from Wales where he has been playing for both Cardiff RFC and the Cardiff Blues ‘A’ side in recent weeks.
Beard made the move from Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s provincial competition to the UK in 2013. He would spend five seasons in the Guinness Pro Championship, three with Edinburgh and two with the Dragons. In 2018 Beard got the call to train with the Crusaders, where he made appearances against the French Barbarians and Western Force before joining Canterbury for the Mitre 10 Cup.
New England now have 35 players signed up for their inaugural regular season. The Free Jacks will open with two matches in Las Vegas, the first against Rugby United New York on Sunday, February 9, and the second against the Utah Warriors the following Saturday, February 15.
