MLR Off-Season Update – New England Free Jacks

Boston rugby fans will at last have a professional outfit to call their own when the New England Free Jacks take the field in 2020. Early ticket sales suggest that the team will be well-supported, and if their off-field preparations go according to plan they could be a competitive force in Major League Rugby’s East Conference straight out of the gate.

2019 CAMPAIGN

The Free Jacks took a page out of Toronto’s book by testing their project in multiple game day scenarios more than a year in advance of their regular season debut. By the time the spring campaign rolled around, they had already played against the Arrows in Halifax and at home against New York. A half-dozen matches were arranged between February and June, with some 43 trialists getting a look in the spring and eight more in the two fall fixtures.

With relatively few imports and challenging opposition including four Irish provincial sides, wins were hard to come by – there was only one. The experience, however, was invaluable for staff and players alike. In the end 22 players were retained, and those that didn’t make the cut were able to take those lessons back to their local sides with a greater appreciation for the standards required at the professional level.

HOME VENUE

After playing at Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth, the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, and Mignone Field on Harvard campus, the team settled on Union Point to make their home in 2020. It’s a conservative move with seating capacity hovering around 2,000 but the Free Jacks are focused on atmosphere in their first campaign to connect with their fan base. As a training base the facilities are ideal with two full-sized pitches available under a seasonal dome for year-round access.

COACHING STAFF

Another similarity to the Arrows is the appointment of local talent to senior coaching and management positions. Former Eagles flanker, Dartmouth coach, and USA Rugby high performance manager Alex Magleby was named CEO. He brings a wealth of knowledge and is known for his attention to detail.

Long-time Mystic River coach Josh Smith will be one of only two American head coaches in the league. Coming from amateur club rugby may seem a gamble, but he is highly regarded in American rugby circles knows the New England scene as well as any. He brings Kareem Afifi from Mystic and Boston College as an assistant with New Zealander Tom Kindley hired as an analyst.

2020 ROSTER

New England were ahead of the curve in the recruitment department, effectively naming their entire roster before many teams had fired a shot. With 2/3 of the roster taking part in the spring, the trick will be to integrate the incoming talent as seamlessly as possible. To that end there were 13 players brought in from elsewhere, most hailing from the Southern Hemisphere.

Irish influence is not as strong as one might have expected but there are a handful including two recent Ireland u20 caps. US-eligible hooker Sean McNulty saw his first MLR action while on loan with Rugby United New York in the spring, while scrumhalf John Poland arrives from Munster.

The front row is a mix of age-grade internationals including Fiji u20 prop Isaac Cavu, France u20 loosehead Simon Courcoul, USA prop Tony Purpura, and Tongan test rep Tolu Fahamokioa. Headlining the scrum is former Japan World Cup tighthead Kensuke Hatakeyama who boasts 78 caps and a decade of Top League experience.

Other capped internationals up front include Canada lock Josh Larsen, fresh off his first World Cup, and former Fiji flanker Naulia Dawai. New Zealand Sevens standout Beaudein Waaka can threaten from multiple backline positions and Fijian Drua starter Poasa Waqanibau is an option at outside center or wing. The latter looks most likely with experienced New Zealanders Sam Beard and Liam Steel set to line up in the midfield.

WHAT’S MISSING

Overall it’s a well-constructed side from top to bottom. There are set piece operators and ball carrying options up front, but the openside flanker options are unproven at professional level. Jon Kokinda has been a club stalwart at Mystic while Evan Geist and Owen Hundt are tipped for success. The team will need at least one of them to step up and make an impact.

With other teams adding Super Rugby talent and names like Leguizamón and Bastareaud set to be unleashed, the Free Jacks have taken a more pragmatic approach. Several players – such as Pago Haini and captain Tadhg Leader – already have MLR experience that will help ensure the team hits the ground running when the first whistle blows in February.

RE-SIGNED (22):

Simon Courcoul, LH
Tony Purpura, LH/TH
Steven Hinshaw, HO
Diego Maquieira, HO
Quentin Newcomer, TH
Conor Kindregan, LO
Ronan McCusker, LO
Jackson Thiebes, LO
Evan Geist, FL
Owen Hundt, FL
Jon Kokinda, FL
Pago Haini, N8
Oliver Engelhart, SH
Erik Thompson, SH
Timothée Guillimin, FH
Tadhg Leader, FH
Ahmad Harajly, CE
Peter Lupton, CE
Christian Adams, WI
Stephen Dazzo, WI
Peceli Rinakama, WI
Danny Collins, FB

IN (13):

Isaac Cavu, LH, GPS (AU)
Tolu Fahamokioa, LH, Hawke’s Bay (NZ)
Sean McNulty, HO, Rugby United New York (return from loan)
Kensuke Hatakeyama, TH, Suntory Sungoliath (JP)
Josh Larsen, LO, Austin Herd
Naulia Dawai, FL, Otago (NZ)
Brad Hemopo, N8, Manly Marlins (AU)
John Poland, SH, Munster (IR)
Sam Beard, CE, Cardiff RFC (UK)
Liam Steel, CE, Bay of Plenty (NZ)
Poasa Waqanibau, CE/WI, Fijian Drua (FI)
Beaudein Waaka, CE/FB, Manly Marlins (AU)
Mitch Wilson, FB, Life Running Eagles