The New England Free Jacks are a
professionalrugby union team in
Major League Rugby (MLR) based in the
Greater Boston area. They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018.[1] They competed in their first season in
MLR in the
2020 season. On July 8, 2023, they became the MLR Champions for the
2023 season, after defeating San Diego Legion in a closely fought match.
History
On September 21, 2018, Major League Rugby announced that
Boston would be one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.[2] That same day, the Boston club was announced as the New England Free Jacks through social media. Their first match was on October 20, 2018, against the
Ontario Arrows at
Wanderers Grounds in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Early rosters from these matches included a mixture of veteran professional players from the disbanded
PRO Rugby competition and top local talent from clubs such as the
Boston Irish Wolfhounds and
Mystic River.
All games in the 2019 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings; the team played to a record of 1–7, losing their first seven games and winning their final match of the season.
On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the
COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled.[11] The Free Jacks finished the short season 9th in the
MLR, 6th in the Eastern Conference.[12]
On May 7, 2021, the Free Jacks announced a mascot, Woodgy, a furry blue creature with rugby headband tape who wears Free Jacks rugby kit.[16]
Academy
New England Independents
On January 8, 2020, the Free Jacks announced that they would compete in two preseason matches against the New England Independents, a brand new select team of local All-Star talent representing eight clubs throughout New England.[17] Adam Zilcoski, of the
Boston Irish Wolfhounds, was selected as the head coach.
Roster
Squad for 2020 Major League Rugby Preseason:[18][19]
Note: Flags indicate national union under
World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
The New England Free Jacks are a
professionalrugby union team in
Major League Rugby (MLR) based in the
Greater Boston area. They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018.[1] They competed in their first season in
MLR in the
2020 season. On July 8, 2023, they became the MLR Champions for the
2023 season, after defeating San Diego Legion in a closely fought match.
History
On September 21, 2018, Major League Rugby announced that
Boston would be one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.[2] That same day, the Boston club was announced as the New England Free Jacks through social media. Their first match was on October 20, 2018, against the
Ontario Arrows at
Wanderers Grounds in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Early rosters from these matches included a mixture of veteran professional players from the disbanded
PRO Rugby competition and top local talent from clubs such as the
Boston Irish Wolfhounds and
Mystic River.
All games in the 2019 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings; the team played to a record of 1–7, losing their first seven games and winning their final match of the season.
On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the
COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled.[11] The Free Jacks finished the short season 9th in the
MLR, 6th in the Eastern Conference.[12]
On May 7, 2021, the Free Jacks announced a mascot, Woodgy, a furry blue creature with rugby headband tape who wears Free Jacks rugby kit.[16]
Academy
New England Independents
On January 8, 2020, the Free Jacks announced that they would compete in two preseason matches against the New England Independents, a brand new select team of local All-Star talent representing eight clubs throughout New England.[17] Adam Zilcoski, of the
Boston Irish Wolfhounds, was selected as the head coach.
Roster
Squad for 2020 Major League Rugby Preseason:[18][19]
Note: Flags indicate national union under
World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.