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It’s another home opener to start off the fourth week of the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The New England Free Jacks will take the field at Fort Quincy donning their green Irish heritage jerseys against Eastern Conference rivals Old Glory DC.
Both sides enter the match with a record of one win and one defeat. The Free Jacks defeated the Gold in New Orleans and then lost in San Diego before their bye week. Old Glory impressed against Chicago in Round 1 but were decidedly second-best in New York a week ago.
New England have found an immediate place in the second row for unexpected returnee Jesse Parete. The abrasive New Zealander is one of two changes to the starting pack, with former Arrows hooker Andrew Quattrin handed his first start in a Free Jacks shirt. Kianu Kereru-Symes and Joel Hintz are set to make their MLR debuts as replacement front rowers.
Ben LeSage and Reece MacDonald also get first starts for the club. The former replaces fellow Canadian international Spencer Jones in the midfield with the latter starting at fullback, with Mitch Wilson sliding to the wing. Jones and Taniela Filimone take their places on the bench.
Quentin Newcomer will start at loosehead prop for Old Glory against his former club. There is also a change at tighthead with Kyle Stewart starting and Ramiro Herrera left among the reserves. Collin Grosse replaces Api Naikatini at lock, with Alejo Daireaux returning as a flanker replacement.
In the backs there is one change to the run-on side. William Talataina makes his first appearance of the season, albeit at the unfamiliar spot of wing. Junior Sa’u drops out to make room, with Owen Sheehy named on the bench in place of Gradyn Bowd.
The Free Jacks won both of their meetings last year, with DC’s only head-to-head victory coming in their very first collision during the 2021 season. Cloudy skies and brisk temperatures are expected at kickoff and with light rain potentially mixed with snow leading in, the conditions could be slippery.
Old Glory couldn’t get much going against New York and will be determined to give a better account of themselves. Similarly the Free Jacks are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Legion. The inclusion of goal kicker MacDonald suggests an arm wrestle is anticipated. New England have a bit more grit up front which should pay dividends in the tricky weather. Take the home side as favorites.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on NBC Sports Boston and MASN in the nation’s capital, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jesse Parete, 6 Sam Fischli, 7 Joe Johnston, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Reece MacDonald
Replacements: 16 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17 Joel Hintz, 18 Tevita Sole, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Cam Davidowicz, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Spencer Jones, 23 Taniela Filimone
OLD GLORY DC
1 Quentin Newcomer, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Collin Grosse, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 William Talataina, 12 Fermín Martínez, 13 Thretton Palamo, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Kurt Baker
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Alejo Daireaux, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Owen Sheehy
Date: Saturday, March 11
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Chris Micheletti (Canada) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon
Broadcasts: MASN, NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-05-07 – New England Free Jacks 26, Old Glory DC 20 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2022-02-18 – Old Glory DC 25, New England Free Jacks 41 (Segra Field)
2021-06-06 – New England Free Jacks 38, Old Glory DC 34 (Union Point Stadium)
2021-04-25 – Old Glory DC 35, New England Free Jacks 22 (Segra Field)
