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The New England Free Jacks have added another promising young loose forward from New Zealand to their stable. Terrell Peita arrives from Auckland on a three-year deal through the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 21-year-old has two senior provincial caps and has most recently been playing club rugby for Ponsonby.
Peita has emerged through New Zealand’s age grade system, captaining both the prestigious Mount Albert Grammar school and the NZ Māori u18 side. He was named in New Zealand’s training group for the 2020 World Rugby u20 Championship but the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic.
A powerful ball carrier and tackler, Peita is most comfortable at blindside flanker or No8. He joins fellow New Zealanders Jesse Parete and Slade McDowall as new back row players for the Free Jacks. Flankers Joe Johnston and Justin Johnson are both confirmed as returning, the former also from New Zealand but US-eligible through parentage.
