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New England’s finest will take the field in Weymouth on Saturday afternoon as one of Major League Rugby’s expansion sides – the Free Jacks – plays the first of two preseason matches against the Independents. The latter is an invitational side comprised of local club talent.
It’s no surprise that several of the Independents squad have represented the Free Jacks in earlier exhibition matches. Props Dave McKenna and Kyle Ciquera, No8 Devin Ibanez, and midfielders Adnan Kawuma and Jared Collinson all played last spring. Ciquera, in fact, has been training with the MLR side in recent days while Collinson is the team’s strength & conditioning coach.
[EDIT: A change to the Independents roster sees Devin Ibanez dropping out and replaced in the starting back row by Ryan Hargraves. Prop Mani Young is called onto the bench.]
Starting scrumhalf Ian Luciano is back in New England after spending the 2019 season with the Utah Warriors. On the bench, front rower Sean Moran and flanker Sean McIlhinney were also part of last year’s spring campaign.
The Free Jacks will hand club debuts to nine starters and one reserve. International props Tolu Fahamokioa, Kensuke Hatakakeyama, and Donald Brighouse will all feature. Zack Stryffeler starts on the flank after arriving from NOLA, and Fijian back row Naulia Dawai is handed the No8 jersey.
John Poland forms an all-Irish halfback combination with Tadhg Leader, with an entirely new midfield in Mitch Wilson and Poasa Waqanibau. Deion Mikesell starts on the right wing with New Zealand Sevens signing Beaudein Waaka getting the nod at fullback.
New signings unavailable for the contest include Canadian lock Josh Larsen, No8 Brad Hemopo, and midfield pair Sam Beard and Liam Steel.
Originally scheduled to be played inside the all-weather bubble at Union Point Sports Complex, the match has tentatively been booked for the main stadium pitch outside due to fan interest. Should the weather prove uncooperative, the match will be moved back indoors.
Kickoff is set for 3:30pm local time, 12:30pm Pacific. There is no live broadcast planned.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Tolu Fakamokioa, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 4 Jackson Thiebes, 5 Conor Kindregan, 6 Owen Hundt, 7 Zack Stryffeler, 8 Naulia Dawai, 9 John Poland, 10 Tadhg Leader, 11 Danny Collins, 12 Mitch Wilson, 13 Poasa Waqanibau, 14 Deion Mikesell, 15 Beaudein Waaka
Replacements: 16 Steven Hinshaw, 17 Simon Courcoul, 18 Donald Brighouse, 19 Ronan McCusker, 20 Evan Geist, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Timothée Guillimin, 23 Christian Adams
NEW ENGLAND INDEPENDENTS
1 Dave McKenna, 2 Blades Shields, 3 Kyle Ciquera, 4 Tim O’Connor, 5 Cody Davidowicz, 6 Ryan Hargraves, 7 Paul Taylor, 8 Cam Davidowicz, 9 Ian Luciano, 10 Andrew Menton, 11 Brian Patterson, 12 Adnan Kawuma, 13 Jared Collinson, 14 Andrew Marshall, 15 David Buchanan
Replacements: 16 Sean Moran, 17 Ryan Curtis, 18 TJ Downey, 19 Sean McElhinney, 20 Mani Young, 21 George Kokkalis, 22 John DeCoste, 23 Haishim Soufan
Date: Saturday, January 18
Venue: Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth
Kickoff: 15:30 local (12:30 Pacific)
Broadcasts: n/a
