Founded | 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Location | Quincy, Massachusetts | |
Ground(s) | Veterans Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 5,000) | |
CEO | Alex Magleby | |
Coach(es) | Scott Mathie | |
Captain(s) | Josh Larsen | |
League(s) | Major League Rugby | |
2024 | Champions 1st (Eastern Conference) | |
| ||
Official website | ||
www |
The New England Free Jacks are a professional rugby 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. The team has won two MLR shields after defeating the San Diego Legion in 2023 and the Seattle Seawolves in 2024.
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.
NFL players Nate Ebner and Patrick Chung are minority owners of the Free Jacks. [3] [4]
Season | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Other Shirt sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Canterbury | None | None |
2018–2019 | Boathouse | ||
2020–2021 | Paladin Sports | ||
2022 | Alloy Therapeutics | ||
2023 | Tufts Medical Center, Dude Wipes | ||
2024–present | Kappa |
The New England Free Jacks squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: [5]
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
Staff for 2022 Major League Rugby Season: [7]
Staff Position | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | Scott Mathie |
Assistant Coach | Mike Rogers |
Performance Director | Tom Kindley |
Owners [8]
Position | Name |
---|---|
Co-Founder, Owner and CEO | Alex Magleby |
Co-Founder, Owner and Chairman | Errik Anderson |
Owner and Board Member | David Barry |
Owner and Board Member | Jonathan Bobbett |
Owner | Patrick Chung |
Owner | Nate Ebner |
Season | Conference | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/− | BP | Pts | Pld | W | L | F | A | +/− | Result | |||
2020 [lower-alpha 1] | Eastern | 9th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 139 | 158 | -19 | 5 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Cancelled | |
2021 | Eastern | 6th | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 360 | 332 | +28 | 8 | 48 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Did not qualify | |
2022 | Eastern | 1st | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 454 | 328 | +126 | 8 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 24 | -8 | Lost Conference Final (Rugby New York) 16–24 | |
2023 | Eastern | 1st | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 556 | 273 | +283 | 12 | 68 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 31 | +19 | Won Conference Final (Old Glory DC) 25-7 Won Major League Rugby final San Diego Legion 25-24 | |
Totals | 53 | 38 | 0 | 15 | 1509 | 1091 | +418 | 33 | 187 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66 | 55 | +11 | 2 postseason appearances |
Coach | Nationality | Start | End | Games | Win | Loss | Draw | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Smith | United States | October 19, 2018 | July 28, 2020 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 20.0 |
Ryan Martin | New Zealand | July 28, 2020 | July 18, 2021 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 62.5 |
Scott Mathie | South Africa | September 9, 2021 | present | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 81.2 |
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.
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 20, 2018 | Ontario Arrows | Away | Wanderers Grounds | Lost, 14–40 |
December 1, 2018 | Rugby United New York | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Lost, 35–38 |
February 9, 2019 | Utah Warriors | Away | Zions Bank Training Center | Lost, 15–70 |
March 16, 2019 | Connacht A [9] | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Lost, 7–38 |
March 24, 2019 | Ulster A [9] | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Lost, 15–43 |
April 6, 2019 | Munster A [9] | Home | Irish Cultural Centre GAA Field | Lost, 19–38 |
April 14, 2019 | Leinster A [9] | Home | Harvard Mignone Field | Lost, 12–55 |
May 18, 2019 | Toronto Arrows | Home | Brophy Field at Dartmouth's Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse | Postponed |
June 1, 2019 | Lansdowne F.C. | Home | Irish Cultural Centre GAA Field | Won, 46–29 |
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]
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 18 | New England Independents | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 39–7 |
January 18 | New England Independents | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 84–21 |
The team accrued a 1–4 record before the season was halted.
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 8 | Rugby United New York | Home | Sam Boyd Stadium | Won, 34–14 |
February 15 | Utah Warriors | Away | Sam Boyd Stadium | Lost, 33–39 |
February 23 | San Diego Legion | Away | Torero Stadium | Lost, 21–30 |
February 29 | Seattle Seawolves | Away | Starfire Sports | Lost, 29–44 |
March 7 | NOLA Gold | Away | The Gold Mine | Lost, 22–31 |
March 14 | Houston SaberCats | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
March 22 | Rugby ATL | Away | Life University Running Eagles Stadium | Cancelled |
April 5 | Colorado Raptors | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
April 10 | Toronto Arrows | Away | TBD | Cancelled |
April 18 | Old Glory DC | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
April 25 | NOLA Gold | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
May 1 | Rugby United New York | Away | MCU Park | Cancelled |
May 9 | Austin Gilgronis | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
May 16 | Toronto Arrows | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
May 24 | Old Glory DC | Away | Cardinal Stadium | Cancelled |
May 30 | Rugby ATL | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Cancelled |
The Free Jacks' first game of the 2021 season was played on March 20, facing LA Giltinis in Los Angeles. [13]
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 20 | LA Giltinis | Away | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Lost, 27–42 |
March 27 | Houston SaberCats | Away | Aveva Stadium | Won, 32-0 |
April 3 | Utah Warriors | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 22-21 |
April 17 | NOLA Gold | Away | Shrine on Airline | Lost, 30-29 |
April 25 | Old Glory DC | Away | Segra Field | Lost, 29-35 |
May 1 | San Diego Legion | Away | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Won, 33-17 |
May 8 | Austin Gilgronis | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 22-18 |
May 15 | Rugby ATL | Away | Life University | Lost, 18-33 |
May 23 | Rugby United New York | Away | Cochrane Stadium | Lost, 19-29 |
May 29 | Toronto Arrows | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 14-12 |
June 6 | Old Glory DC | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 38-34 |
June 13 | Seattle Seawolves | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 25-21 |
June 27 | NOLA Gold | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Lost, 9-17 |
July 3 | Rugby United New York | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Won, 22-6 |
July 11 | Toronto Arrows | Away | Life University | Won, 28-17 |
July 18 | Rugby ATL | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 22-19 |
Source: [14]
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 5 | New Orleans Gold | Away | Gold Mine on Airline | Won, 24-13 |
February 18 | Old Glory DC | Away | Segra Field | Won, 41-25 |
February 27 | LA Giltinis | Away | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Lost, 15-19 |
March 6 | Rugby New York | Away | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Won, 38-29 |
March 12 | Toronto Arrows | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 21-15 |
March 19 | Austin Gilgronis | Away | Bold Stadium | Won, 25-17 |
March 26 | Rugby ATL | Away | Silverbacks Park | Won, 41-27 |
April 2 | New Orleans Gold | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 33-29 |
April 9 | Seattle Seawolves | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 24-22 |
April 24 | Rugby New York | Away | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Won, 29-26 |
April 30 | Utah Warriors | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 33-17 |
May 7 | Old Glory DC | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 26-20 |
May 13 | Rugby ATL | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 15-10 |
May 19 | Toronto Arrows | Away | York Lions Stadium | Lost, 18-33 |
May 29 | New Orleans Gold | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 57-5 |
June 3 | Rugby New York | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Lost, 14-21 |
Source: [15]
Round | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Venue | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Conference Finals | June 19 | Rugby New York | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Lost, 16–24 |
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 8 | Houston SaberCats | Away | SaberCats Stadium | L, 21-34 |
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 17 | New Orleans Gold | Away | The Gold Mine | W, 36-12 |
February 26 | San Diego Legion | Away | Snapdragon Stadium | L, 12-29 |
March 11 | Old Glory DC | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 34-31 |
March 19 | Rugby New York | Away | Memorial Field | W, 33-18 |
March 25 | Dallas Jackals | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 10-9 |
March 31 | Utah Warriors | Away | Zions Bank Stadium | L, 24-26 |
April 8 | Chicago Hounds | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 31-19 |
April 15 | Toronto Arrows | Away | York Lions Stadium | W, 80-5 |
April 22 | Rugby ATL | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 23-13 |
April 30 | Rugby New York | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 8-0 |
May 14 | Old Glory DC | Away | Segra Field | W, 42-12 |
May 21 | New Orleans Gold | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 50-3 |
May 27 | Toronto Arrows | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 57-20 |
June 2 | Rugby ATL | Away | Silverbacks Park | W, 35-14 |
June 11 | Seattle Seawolves | Away | Starfire Stadium | W, 34-26 |
June 18 | Houston SaberCats | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 47-24 |
Round | Date | Opponent | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
East Conference Finals | July 1, 2023 | Old Glory DC | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 25-7 |
MLR Grand Final | July 8, 2023 | San Diego Legion | SeatGeek Stadium | W, 25-24 |
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 22 | Dallas Jackals | Neutral | SaberCats Stadium | L, 22-24 |
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 3 | Anthem RC | Away | American Legion Memorial Stadium | W, 46-13 |
March 9 | Old Glory DC | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | L, 34-35 |
March 16 | New Orleans Gold | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 27-21 |
March 24 | Chicago Hounds | Away | SeatGeek Stadium | W, 22-17 |
April 6 | Miami Sharks | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 25-3 |
April 13 | Houston SaberCats | Away | SaberCats Stadium | W, 47-35 |
April 20 | Seattle Seawolves | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | L, 21-29 |
April 28 | RFC Los Angeles | Away | Dignity Health Sports Park | W, 34-12 |
May 5 | Chicago Hounds | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | L, 20-26 |
May 19 | San Diego Legion | Away | Snapdragon Stadium | W, 24-23 |
May 25 | Miami Sharks | Away | Chase Stadium | L, 15-13 |
June 2 | Dallas Jackals | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 26-24 |
June 8 | Old Glory DC | Away | Maryland SoccerPlex | W, 31-30 |
June 16 | Utah Warriors | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 36-27 |
June 22 | New Orleans Gold | Away | Gold Mine on Airline | L, 17-27 |
June 29 | Anthem RC | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | W, 40-7 |
Round | Date | Opponent | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
East Conference Semifinals | July 20, 2024 | Old Glory DC | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 33-29 |
East Conference Final | July 27, 2024 | Chicago Hounds | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Won, 23-17 |
Championship | August 4, 2024 | Seattle Seawolves | Snapdragon Stadium | Won, 20-11 |
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]
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.
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.
|
|
Club | Region |
---|---|
the Alarm | Boston |
Champs | Champlain |
Cobblers | North Shore |
Granite Hammers | Southern New Hampshire |
Lightfoots | Western MA |
Mutineers | Rhode Island |
Night Watch | Upper CT |
Pathfinders | Central MA |
Pine Rioters | Southern Vermont & New Hampshire |
River Rangers | Upper Valley |
the Sea Serpents | Maine Seacoast |
Silver Sharks | South Shore |
Whistle Punks | New England North |
The Junior Jacks are the youth academy level for the Free Jacks.
The Mystic River Rugby Club, sometimes called Boston Mystic, is a New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) club, founded in 1974, located in Malden, Massachusetts, and Melrose, Massachusetts, who field teams in Division 1 American Rugby Premiership and Division 2 Rugby Union in the United States and are the current 2018 USA Rugby D1 National Champions.
Scott Mathie is a rugby union current coach and former player. He played as a scrum-half for the Blue Bulls, Sharks, Leeds Carnegie, Sale Sharks and Eastern Province Kings. He retired in October 2013. He is the current head coach of the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR).
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