Nate Brakeley
{{Short description|American rugby union player (b. 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Nate Brakeley
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|8|31}}
| birth_place = Marblehead, Massachusetts
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=5}}
| weight = {{convert|260|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| school = St. John's Prep
| university = Dartmouth College
| amatyears1 = 2008–2012
| amatyears2 = 2012
| amatyears3 = 2013–2018
| amatteam1 = Dartmouth College
| amatteam2 = Cambridge University
| amatteam3 = New York Athletic Club
| amatapps1 =
| amatapps2 =
| amatpoints1 =
| amatpoints2 =
| ru_amupdate = April 9, 2018
| clubs1 = Rugby New York
| apps1 = 42
| points1 = 10
| years1 = 2018–2023
| ru_clubupdate = 6 March 2023
| repteam1 = USA Selects
| repteam2 = United States
| repyears1 = 2018
| repyears2 = 2016–2023
| repcaps1 = 3
| repcaps2 = 34
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 5
| ru_ntupdate = 19 November 2023
}}
Nate Brakeley (born August 31, 1989) is an American former professional rugby union player who played lock and flanker for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) of Major League Rugby (MLR) and for the United States men's national team. Brakeley also played for the New York Athletic Club.
Early life and education
Brakeley began playing rugby in high school, playing four years at St. John's Preparatory School.{{cite web |last1=Grenier |first1=Mike |title=Rugby flying high at the Prep in Danvers. |url=https://www.salemnews.com/archives/rugby-flying-high-at-the-prep-in-danvers/article_dc5ee779-15b2-51e1-94eb-2444cbe2c209.html |website=Salem News |access-date=1 December 2023 |language=en |date=7 May 2007}}
Brakeley went on to attend Dartmouth College, where he majored in engineering.{{cite web |title=Dartmouth First XV Players Rack Up Postseason Awards |url=https://www.ivyrugby.com/news/dartmouth-first-xv-players-rack-postseason-awards |website=Ivy Rugby Conference |access-date=1 December 2023 |language=en |date=23 May 2011}} While there, Brakeley was a member of the Dartmouth Rugby team that won Collegiate Rugby Championships in 2011 and 2012.{{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Brad |title=Bash Brothers |url=https://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/articles/bash-brothers |website=Dartmouth Alumni Magazine |access-date=1 December 2023 |language=en}}
Brakeley also attended Cambridge University, where he earned an MPhil in energy technology.{{cite news |last=Georgeson |first=Andrew |date=February 24, 2017 |title=American international Nate Brakeley hails his Cambridge University rugby education |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/rugby/american-international-nate-brakeley-hails-12650030 |work=Cambridge News |access-date=April 20, 2018}} While at Cambridge, Brakeley played for the Cambridge University rugby team and participated in the 2012 Varsity Match at Twickenham Stadium—a 26–19 defeat to Oxford. After returning to the United States, Brakeley played for Cambridge's touring team for one match against the Men's Collegiate All-Americans.{{cite news |last=DePlacido |first=Jean |date=February 24, 2018 |title=Jean DePacido column: Peabody alum Vieira excelling in weight throw at Worcester State |url=http://www.salemnews.com/sports/jean-depacido-column-peabody-alum-vieira-excelling-in-weight-throw/article_dfeba445-2997-5806-b7f1-05c5b04ddd08.html |work=Salem News |access-date=April 20, 2018}}
Club career
=New York Athletic Club=
After completing his studies at Cambridge and returning to the United States, Brakeley began playing club rugby for the New York Athletic Club in 2013.{{cite web |title=Nate Brakeley Reaches 50 Caps |url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/nate-brakeley-reaches-50-caps/ |website=Major League Rugby |access-date=29 November 2023}} He was a starter for the NYAC team that defeated the Austin Blacks 44-39 in the 2015 USA Rugby Men's Division I Club National Championship at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.{{cite web |last1=Wise |first1=Chad |title=Seattle Saracens, NYAC win Emirates Airline Division I Club National Championships |url=https://usa.rugby/news/seattle-saracens-nyac-win-emirates-airline-division-i-club-national-championships |website=USA Rugby |access-date=29 November 2023 |language=en}}
=Rugby New York=
Brakeley joined Rugby United New York (RUNY) for their inaugural season as an associate member of Major League Rugby in 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2018-major-league-rugby/2018-major-league-rugby-exhibition/2018-major-league-rugby-rugby-united-new-york/ |title=2018 Major League Rugby – Rugby United New York |date= |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=April 20, 2018}} Brakeley started at lock in each of RUNY's three exhibitions against the Ontario Arrows and Boston Mystics in March 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/03/17/new-york-win-historic-first-match-over-ontario/ |title=New York win historic first match over Ontario |date=March 17, 2018 |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=April 20, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/03/25/new-york-blank-boston-historic-night-bronx/ |title=New York blank Boston on historic night in the Bronx |date=March 25, 2018 |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=April 20, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/04/02/strong-second-half-new-york-past-boston/ |title=Strong second half leads New York past Boston |date=April 2, 2018 |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=April 20, 2018}} Brakeley maintained a full-time job as a data analyst while playing professionally in Major League Rugby.{{cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Alix |title=How a Professional Rugby Player Spends Sundays |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/nyregion/rugby-united-new-york.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=1 December 2023 |date=2 July 2021}}
On June 19, 2022, Brakeley became the twenty-fifth MLR player to appear in 50 matches.{{cite web |title=Nate Brakeley Reaches 50 Caps |url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/nate-brakeley-reaches-50-caps/ |website=Major League Rugby |access-date=1 December 2023}} Brakeley captained New York to the franchise's first MLR championship in the 2022 final, a 30-15 victory against the Seattle Seawolves at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on June 25, 2022.{{cite web |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |title=New York win Major League Rugby championship game against Seattle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/25/new-york-win-major-league-rugby-championship-game-seattle |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 December 2023 |date=25 June 2022}}
International career
=USA Selects=
In September 2018, it was announced that Brakeley had been selected for the USA Selects roster for the 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/09/13/usa-selects-named-for-americas-pacific-challenge/ |title=USA Selects named for Americas Pacific Challenge |date=September 13, 2018 |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=September 20, 2018}}
=USA Eagles=
Brakeley made his debut with the USA Eagles on February 13, 2016, starting at flanker in the Eagles' 30–22 victory over Canada in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/02/14/clever-hat-trick-seals-win-for-eagles/ |title=Clever Hat-Trick Seals win for Eagles |date=February 14, 2016 |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=April 20, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/match/283419.html |title=United States of America v Canada at TX |date=February 13, 2016 |website=espn.co.uk |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 20, 2018}} Brakeley scored his first try for the Eagles in the Eagles' 52–16 victory over Canada on July 1, 2017, in a qualification match for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/07/01/usa-rout-canada-earn-world-cup-spot/ |title=USA rout Canada, earn World Cup spot |date=July 1, 2017 |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=April 20, 2018}}
During the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Brakeley juggled Test matches and training sessions with the Eagles with a full-time remote job for a real estate technology company in New York.{{cite web |title=Work hard, play hard - USA's Brakeley juggles rugby with data job {{!}} Rugby World Cup |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/476786 |website=www.rugbyworldcup.com |access-date=29 November 2023 |language=en}}
In his final test match, Brakeley captained the Eagles to victory in a 42-12 win over Spain in the final of La Vila International Rugby Cup.{{cite web |title=USA win La Vila International Rugby Cup |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/894158/usa-win-la-vila-international-rugby-cup |website=World Rugby |access-date=20 November 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brakeley, Nate}}
Category:United States international rugby union players
Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players
Category:Rugby New York players
Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players
Category:Sportspeople from Marblehead, Massachusetts