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The New England Free Jacks have signed flanker Mitch Jacobson for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. A former New Zealand u20 representative, the 26-year-old arrives from Waikato having previously played Super Rugby with the Chiefs and Sunwolves.
Jacobson is one of few players to appear in three Junior World Championships after getting called up to the ‘Baby Blacks’ as an 18-year-old. He made his senior provincial debut at the age of 19 and has gone on to play nearly 70 games for the Mooloos since 2015.
Despite being a standout in the NPC, consistent game time in Super Rugby eluded Jacobson until signing for the Sunwolves in 2020. He was the first choice openside flanker during the shortened campaign, which was ultimately the Japanese team’s last in the competition.
The Chiefs included Jacobson in their extended squad in 2022 but he did not make a regular season appearance. Younger brother Luke, also a flanker, has been an All Black since 2019. As Jacobson arrives, another New Zealander departs the Free Jacks as Jesse Parete will not be returning in 2023.
