New England Free Jacks

On September 21, 2018, Major League Rugby announced that Boston would be one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/09/21/major-league-rugby-confirms-boston-atlanta-2020/|title=Major League Rugby confirms Boston and Atlanta for 2020 - Americas Rugby News|website=Americasrugbynews.com|access-date=23 November 2018}} 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.

NFL players Nate Ebner and Patrick Chung are minority owners of the Free Jacks.{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/02/20/patriots-patrick-chung-nate-ebner-embracing-roles-as-major-league-rugby-minority-owners/ |title=Patriots Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner embracing roles as Major League Rugby minority owners }}{{cite web |url=https://therunnersports.com/new-england-free-jacks-expand-ownership-introduce-nate-ebner-patrick-chung/ |title=New England Free Jacks Expand Ownership, Introduce Nate Ebner & Patrick Chung - The Runner Sports }}

Josh Smith would be hired as the teams first head coach in 2018. In 2019 the Free jacks would play a season full of exhibitions going 1-7 in those games. In 2020 during their first official seasonFree jacks announce 2020 roster https://freejacks.com/news/free-jacks-announce-roster-for-first-match-in-2020-major-league-rugby-season/ they went 1-4 before the season rest of the season was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Smith did not come back for the 2021 season and was replaced by Ryan Martin.

Martin would lead the Free Jacks to their first winning season going 10-6 but they would miss the playoffs. Martin would leave after just one year and be replaced by Scott Mathie.Scott Mathie free jacks website https://freejacks.com/team/scott-mathie/

Mathie would coach the Free Jacks for the next 3 years and see nothing but success. Leading the team to a 13-3 record in his first year and secure the 1 seed in the eastern conference. This would lead to the Free Jacks first playoff appearance and first appearance in the eastern conference championship. There season would come to an end here though losing to Rugby New York 24-16. Mathie would be named coach of the year in 2022 and Beaudein Waaka would be the first Free Jacks player to be named MLR player of the year. This would be the start of something special though as the following year the Free Jacks would set a team record going 14-2 during the 2023 season. This would once again give them home field advantage for the Eastern conference championship. The Free Jacks would win their first conference title beating Old Glory DC 25-7. Punching their ticket to their first appearance in the MLR championship. They would face the San Diego Legion at SeatGeek Stadium for the 2023 MLR championship. The game would be neck and neck throughout but Le Roux Malan would score the game winning try in the 76th minute giving the Free Jacks the 25-24 victory and securing the first MLR championship in team history. Jayson Potroz was subsequently named Championship game MVP along with MLR player of the year.Jayson Potroz free jacks page https://freejacks.com/team/jayson-potroz/#:~:text=In%20his%20first%20season%20as,MVP%20of%20the%20championship%20final. Finally Wian Conradie would be named forward of the year being the first player in team history to get the honor. Capping of a historic season for the Free Jacks. Mathie would go on lead the Free Jacks to another title the following year. As in 2024 they would go 11-5 and for the third year in a row received the number one seed in the eastern conference. In the first round, the Free Jacks met Old Glory DC 33-29, and then in the Eastern Conference championship beat the Chicago Hounds 23-17 to win their second consecutive conference title. They would then head to Snapdragon Stadium to play the Seattle Seawolves for the 2024 MLR championship, where they won by a 20-11 score making them the second team in MLR history to win back to back titles. Jed Melvin was named the championship game MVP. Potroz would once again lead the league in points, Reece McDonald would be named back of the year and Wayne van der Bank would be the third Free Jacks player in a row to be named MLR player of the year. Mathie would also be named coach of the year for a second time. This would be his final year though as would leave after the 2024 season taking the job as attacks and backs coach at Edinburgh Rugby. As coach, Mathie finished with a overall record of 38-10 and went 5-1 in the playoffs.

In 2024 it was announced that former Free Jacks coach Ryan Martin would be coming back as head coach for a second stint.Ryan Martin returns to New England https://freejacks.com/news/the-return-of-ryan-martin-free-jacks-announce-new-head-coach-for-2025-season/

• MLR Championship shield
• Champions: 2023, 2024
• Appearances: 2023, 2024
• MLR Eastern Conference Championship
• Champions: 2023, 2024
• Appearances: 2022, 2023, 2024

MLR player of the year

• Beaudein Waaka : 2022
• Jayson Potroz: 2023
• Wayne van der Bank: 2024

MLR Forward of the year

• Wian Conradie: 2023

MLR Back of the year

• Reece McDonald: 2024

MLR Coach of the year

• x2 Scott Mathie: 2022, 2024

MLR Championship game MVP

• Jayson Potroz: 2023
• Jed Melvin : 2024

MLR points leader

• x2 Jayson Potroz: 2023, 2024

{{for|player movements before and during the 2024 season|List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers#New England Free Jacks}}

The New England Free Jacks squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:{{cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2024-major-league-rugby/mlr-2024-new-england-free-jacks/|title=New England Free Jacks|work=Americas Rugby News|access-date=31 December 2023}}

{{Rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=HK | name=Foster DeWitt}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=HK | name=Connal McInerney}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=HK | name=Andrew Quattrin}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=HK | name=Lindsey Stevens}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Kyle Ciquera}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Kaleb Geiger}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=PR | name=Malakai Hala-Ngatai}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=PR | name=Cole Keith}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=PR | name=Jone Koroiduadua}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Ivan Pula}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=TON | pos=PR | name=Tevita Sole}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=PR | name=Kyle Steeves}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=LK | name=Kyle Baillie}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=LK | name=Conor Keys}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=LK | name=Josh Larsen (c)}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=LK | name=Jackson Thiebes}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=LK | name= Piers von Dadelszen}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Matthew Carrion}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NAM | pos=BR | name=Wian Conradie}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Cam Davidowicz}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=BR | name=Ethan Fryer}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=BR | name=Jerónimo Gómez Vara}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=BR | name=Joe Johnson*}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Kaipono Kayoshi}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=BR | name=Jed Melvin}}

{{rugby squad mid}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=SH | name=Emmanuel Lai}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=SH | name=Oscar Lennon}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FJI | pos=SH | name=Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti**}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=SH | name=John Poland}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=FH | name=Harrison Boyle*}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=FH | name=Jayson Potroz}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=FH | name=Simon-Peter Toleafo}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=CE | name=Ben LeSage}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NAM | pos=CE | name=Le Roux Malan}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=CE | name=Faletoi Peni}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=Jack Reeves**}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=CE | name=Wayne van der Bank}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=WG | name=Noah Bain}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FJI | pos=WG | name=Paula Balekana}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=WG | name=Isaac Olson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=WG | name=Josiah Morra}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=FB | name=Killan Coghlan}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=FB | name=Brock Webster}}

{{Rugby squad end}}

• Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
• * denotes players qualified to play for the {{nrut|United States}} on dual nationality or residency grounds.
• ** denotes players qualified to play for the {{nrut|Canada}} on dual nationality or residency grounds.
• MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

• {{flagicon|USA}} Josh Smith (2018–2020)
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Ryan Martin (2020–2021)
• {{Flagicon|South Africa}} Scott Mathie (2021–2024){{Cite web|title=Free Jacks Appoint Scott Mathie Head Coach and Mike Rogers Senior Assistant|url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/free-jacks-appoint-scott-mathie-head-coach-and-mike-rogers-senior-assistant/|access-date=2021-12-10|website=Major League Rugby|language=en-US}}
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Ryan Martin (2024–present)

• Josh Larsen (2020–present
• Joe Johnston (2025–present

Staff for 2025 Major League Rugby Season:{{cite web |title=Staff |url=https://freejacks.com/staff/ |website=New England Free Jacks |access-date=26 March 2022}}

Owners{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://freejacks.com/leadership/ |website=New England Free Jacks |access-date=26 March 2022}}

{{notelist}}

File:New England free jacks game at veterans memorial.jpg

The Free jacks play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium located in Quincy Massachusetts. With a capacity of 5,000, the stadium has also been referred to as Fort Quincy. The stadium has hosted the MLR Eastern conference championship 3 times in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Free Jacks also hold numerous festivals here throughout the season.Free jacks festivals https://freejacks.com/2025-festivals/free-jacks-quincy-day-festival-2025/

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.[https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-suspends-2020-season-for-30-days/ Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020] Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled.{{cite news |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/major-league-rugby-cancels-remainder-2020-campaign-144516941--spt.html |work=Yahoo! Sports |agency=AFP |access-date=March 19, 2020}} The Free Jacks finished the short season 9th in the MLR, 6th in the Eastern Conference.{{cite web |title=Standings |url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/standings/ |publisher=Major League Rugby |access-date=28 May 2020}}

The team accrued a 1–4 record before the season was halted.

The Free Jacks' first game of the 2021 season was played on March 20, facing LA Giltinis in Los Angeles.{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/sports/2021/03/professional-rugby-team-new-england-free-jacks-to-debut-in-massachusetts.html |title=Professional rugby team New England Free Jacks to debut in Massachusetts |first=Doug |last=Banks |website=masslive.com |date=March 20, 2021 |accessdate=March 21, 2021}}

Source:{{cite web |url=https://freejacks.com/2021-schedule/ |title=2021 Scheduled |website=freejacks.com |accessdate=March 21, 2021}}

Source:{{cite web |url=https://freejacks.com/2022-schedule/ |title=2022 Scheduled |website=freejacks.com |accessdate=January 13, 2022}}

{{see also|2022 Major League Rugby playoffs}}

{{see also|2023 Major League Rugby Championship Series}}

{{see also|2024 Major League Rugby Championship Series}}

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.{{Cite web|title=𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙜𝙮 – 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚍 {{!}} New England Free Jacks|url=https://freejacks.com/news/%f0%9d%99%92%f0%9d%99%a4%f0%9d%99%a4%f0%9d%99%99%f0%9d%99%9c%f0%9d%99%ae-%f0%9d%9a%a0%f0%9d%9a%92%f0%9d%9a%95%f0%9d%9a%8d-%f0%9d%9a%a0%f0%9d%9a%98%f0%9d%9a%98%f0%9d%9a%8d-%f0%9d%9a%8c%f0%9d%9a%9b/|access-date=2021-05-10|language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web|title=The New England Free Jacks, Boston’s First Professional Rugby Team, Announce Two Free Preseason Matches In The Month Of January At Union Point Sports Complex {{!}} New England Free Jacks|url=https://freejacks.com/news/the-new-england-free-jacks-bostons-first-professional-rugby-team-announce-two-free-preseason-matches-in-the-month-of-january-at-union-point-sports-complex/|access-date=2021-06-21|language=en-US}} Adam Zilcoski, of the Boston Irish Wolfhounds, was selected as the head coach.

Squad for 2020 Major League Rugby Preseason:[https://freejacks.com/news/free-jacks-vs-independents-roster-match-preview/] “1-18-2020 New England Independents Squad”[https://freejacks.com/news/free-jacks-vs-independents-roster-match-two-preview/]"1-24-2020 New England Independents Squad”

{{Rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=HK | name=Blades Shields}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=PR | name=David McKenna}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=PR | name=Kyle Ciquera}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=PR | name=Sean Moran}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=LK | name=Timmy O’Connor}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=LK | name=Cody Davidowicz}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=FL | name=Ryan Hargraves}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=FL | name=Paul Taylor}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=N8 | name=Cam Davidowicz}}

{{rugby squad mid}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | natvar=rugby union | pos=SH | name=Ian Luciano}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=FH | name=Andrew Menton}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=CE | name=Adnan Kawuma}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=CE | name=Jared Collinson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG| name=Brad Patterson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG| name=Andrew Marshall}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | natvar=rugby union | pos=FB | name=David Buchanan}}

{{Rugby squad end}}

{{Cite web |url=https://www.freejacks.com/news/free-jacks-launch-new-england-wide-academy/ |title=FREE JACKS LAUNCH NEW ENGLAND-WIDE ACADEMY |date=2020-09-24 |website=freejacks.com |access-date=2020-09-24}}

The Junior Jacks are the youth academy level for the Free Jacks.

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}

{{New England Free Jacks}}

{{Major League Rugby}}

{{Massachusetts Sports}}

{{Boston, Massachusetts}}

{{New England Free Jacks squad}}

Category:Major League Rugby teams

Category:Rugby union teams in Massachusetts

Category:Rugby clubs established in 2018

Category:2018 establishments in Massachusetts