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The two-time defending champion Free Jacks start their 2025 campaign on the road in California. Waiting for them is a heavily-upgraded Los Angeles side that is headlined by current Argentina scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou and former Australia and Samoa flyhalf Christian Leali’ifano. For New England it’s largely familiar names, with the notable addition of 2024 MLR Forward of the Year Jerónimo Gómez Vara.
| 2024 RECORD |
5-10-1, West 6th
11-5-0, East 1st (MLR Champions)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(13) – Sugars*, Anstee*, Timpson*, Houston*, Bertranou*, Leali’ifano*, Chan*, Jensen*, Dyer, Gerlach*, Leaney*, Niuafe*, Meakes
(8) – Caird*, Gómez Vara, Toleafoa*, McInerney*, Carrion*, Kayoshi*, Bain, Morra*
*MLR debut
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Damm, Dyer, Sosene-Feagai (USA), O’Gorman, Coe, Heaton (Canada), Bertranou (Argentina), Leali’ifano (Samoa)
(9) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, Olson, DeWitt, Keith, Morra (Canada), Geiger (USA), Malan (Namibia), McInerney (Australia)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Conor Young (TH), Reece MacDonald (FB)
– Conor Keys (LO), Wian Conradie (N8), Jayson Potroz (FH)
| PREDICTION |
Most of last year’s title-winning lineup are in place, though the Free Jacks are without star flyhalf Jayson Potroz this week. Both teams are absent lock cover among their reserves. LA will have taken much from their preseason trip to Fiji, but face a tall order to topple the defending champs on Day One. New England are favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Alessandry Heaney, 2 Ben Sugars, 3 Cronan Gleeson, 4 Jason Damm (capt.), 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Ed Timpson, 8 Ben Houston, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 11 Andrew Coe, 12 Nick Chan, 13 Matias Jensen, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Cam Gerlach
Replacements: 16 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17 Declan Leaney, 18 Maliu Niuafe, 19 Ben Strang, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Tas Smith, 22 Billy Meakes, 23 Seth Purdey
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Kaleb Geiger, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Sam Caird, 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 9 John Poland, 10 Harrison Boyle, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Isaac Olson, 15 Simon-Peter Toleafoa
Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Foster DeWitt, 18 Cole Keith, 19 Matt Carrion, 20 Kaipono Kayoshi, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Noah Bain, 23 Josiah Morra
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, February 15
Venue: Wallis Annenberg Stadium, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 18:00 local (21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 59°F (15°C), wind NW 3-4mph (5-6km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, FanDuel Sports SoCal, NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
TMO: Saro Turner (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (7) – New England 6, ATL/LA 1, STREAK New England +6
2024-04-28 – RFC Los Angeles 12, New England Free Jacks 34 (Dignity Health Stadium)
2023-06-02 – Rugby ATL 14, New England Free Jacks 35 (Silverbacks Park)
2023-04-22 – New England Free Jacks 23, Rugby ATL 13 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2022-05-13 – New England Free Jacks 15, Rugby ATL 10 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2022-03-26 – Rugby ATL 27, New England Free Jacks 41 (Silverbacks Park)
2021-07-18 – New England Free Jacks 22, Rugby ATL 19 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2021-05-15 – Rugby ATL 33, New England Free Jacks 18 (Lupo Family Field)
