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The New England Free Jacks have announced the signing of South African loose forward Lubabalo ‘Tera’ Mtembu on a long-term contract that runs through the 2023 Major League Rugby season. He arrives from Durban after a decade of experience with the Sharks.
Mtembu, 29, represented South Africa at the 2010 Junior World Championship and was then selected for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He broke into the senior Sharks provincial side in the 2011 Vodacom Cup and made his Super Rugby debut against the Stormers the following year.
In 2014 Mtembu was named captain of the Currie Cup side, a role he would hold through 2019, and was vice-captain of the Super Rugby side in 2017. The 6’2″ (1.87m) ball carrier has primarily played at No8 throughout his career with occasional appearances at flanker.
The Free Jacks have now secured five new players ahead of the 2021 season including draft picks Justin Johnson and Spencer Kruger, and undrafted free agent signings Jack Miller and Tom Brusati. New England also have a new Head Coach, hiring Otago attack specialist Ryan Martin from New Zealand.
