New England Free Jacks
The New England Free Jacks are an American professional rugby union team based in the Greater Boston area that competes in Major League Rugby. They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018. They competed in their first season in MLR in the 2020 [Major League Rugby season|2020 season]. The team has won three consecutive MLR shields, defeating the San Diego Legion in 2023 Major [League Rugby season|2023], the Seattle Seawolves in 2024, and the Houston Sabercats in 2025.
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. That same day, the Boston club was announced as the New England Free Jacks through social media. The club was co-founded by Alex Magleby and Errik Anderson. 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.Former NFL players Nate Ebner and Patrick Chung, who were teammates on the New England Patriots, are minority owners of the Free Jacks.
Josh Smith was hired as the team's first head coach in 2018. In 2019 the Free Jacks played a season full of exhibitions, going 1-7 in those games. In 2020, during their first official season, they went 1-4 before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that year, Mitch Wilson scored the first trie in team history in a game vs New York.
Smith did not come back for the 2021 season and was replaced by Ryan Martin. Martin led the Free Jacks to their first winning season; they finished 10-6 but missed the playoffs. Martin left after that season, and was replaced by Scott Mathie.
Mathie coached the Free Jacks for the next three years and saw nothing but success. He led the team to a 13-3 record in his first year and secured the 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. This led to the Free Jacks' first playoff appearance and first appearance in the Eastern Conference Championship. Their season came to an end here though, losing to Rugby New York 24-16. At the end of the season Mathie was named coach of the year in 2022 and Beaudein Waaka was the first Free Jacks player to be named MLR player of the year.
Threepeat
The following year, the Free Jacks set a team record, going 14-2 in the 2023 season. This again gave them home field advantage for the Eastern Conference championship. The Free Jacks won their first conference title, beating Old Glory DC 25-7 and leading to their first appearance in the MLR championship. They faced the San Diego Legion at SeatGeek Stadium for the 2023 MLR championship. The game was neck and neck throughout, but Le Roux Malan scored 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 after leading the league in points. Wian Conradie was named forward of the year, the first player in team history to receive the honor. This capped off a historic season for the Free Jacks.During the 2023 season, John Poland became the first player in club history to reach his 50th cap.
Mathie led the Free Jacks to another title the following year. As in 2024, they went 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 then headed 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 again led the league in points, Reece MacDonald was named back of the year and Wayne van der Bank was the third Free Jacks player in a row to be named MLR player of the year. Mathie was named coach of the year for a second time. This was his final year though, as he left after the 2024 season, taking the job as attacks and backs coach at Edinburgh Rugby.
In 2024 it was announced that former Free Jacks coach Ryan Martin would return as head coach for a second stint.
During the 2025 season the Free Jacks got out to a slow start, starting the year 1-3 overall. However, coach Martin and the team turned things around, and ended the year with a 11-5 record, finishing first overall in the Eastern Conference for the 4th year in a row. They faced the Miami Sharks in the first round of the playoffs, beating them 32-10. They then faced the Chicago Hounds in the conference final, coming back from a 17-0 deficit, with Kyle Ciquera scoring the go ahead try in the 77th minute to win 21-20. They claimed the Eastern Conference championship for a third straight year. They then faced the Houston SaberCats in the 2025 Major League Rugby final. The Free Jacks had the lead for a majority of the match, ultimately winning 28-22, with Brock Webster being named the MVP of the match. This was the third straight MLR championship in a row for the Free Jacks. They were the first team in MLR history, and the first pro sports team in North America, to successfully compete a threepeat since 2002. At the end of the season, Paula Balekana was named the MLR player of the year, making him the fourth Free Jacks player in a row to receive the award. Coach Ryan Martin would also receive the coach of the year award.
Honors
Championships
MLR Championship shield- * Champions: 2023, 2024, 2025,
- * Appearances: 2023, 2024, 2025MLR Eastern Conference Championship
- * Champions: 2023, 2024, 2025
- * Appearances: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Individual awards
Major League Rugby Player of the Year- Beaudein Waaka: 2022
- Jayson Potroz: 2023
- Wayne van der Bank: 2024
- Paula Balekana: 2025
- Wian Conradie: 2023
- Reece MacDonald: 2024
- Scott Mathie : 2022, 2024
- Ryan Martin: 2025
- Jayson Potroz: 2023
- Jed Melvin: 2024
- Brock Webster: 2025
- Jayson Potroz : 2023, 2024
Roster
The New England Free Jacks squad for the 2026 Major League Rugby season is:- Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
- * denotes players qualified to play for the on dual nationality or residency grounds.
- ** denotes non-American players playing as domestic players.
Head coaches' tenures
- Josh Smith
- Ryan Martin
- Scott Mathie
- Ryan Martin
Captains
Leadership
Staff for 2025 Major League Rugby season:| Staff position | Name |
| Head Coach | Ryan Martin |
| Assistant coach | Dewald Senekal |
| Assistant coach | Pom Simona |
| General manager | Tom Kindley |
Owners
| Position | Name |
| Co-founder, owner and executive chairman | Alex Magleby |
| Co-founder, owner and chairman | Errik Anderson |
| CEO | Ian Frenette |
| Owner and board member | Angad Banga |
| Owner and board member | David Barry |
| Owner and board member | Jonathan Bobbett |
| Owner | Patrick Chung |
| Owner | Nate Ebner |
Stadium
The Free Jacks play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium 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 four times, in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Free Jacks also hold numerous festivals there throughout the season. Renovations were made to the stadium's left side during the 2025 season, adding a new VIP seating area.2019 season
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 | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Lost, 7–38 |
| March 24, 2019 | Ulster A | Home | Union Point Sports Complex | Lost, 15–43 |
| April 6, 2019 | Munster A | Home | Irish Cultural Centre GAA Field | Lost, 19–38 |
| April 14, 2019 | Leinster A | 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 |
2020 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. Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled. The Free Jacks finished the short season 9th in the MLR and 6th in the Eastern Conference.Regular season
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 |
2021 season
The Free Jacks' first game of the 2021 season was played on March 20, facing LA Giltinis in Los Angeles.| 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:
2022 season
Regular season
Source:Post season
| Round | Date | Opponent | Home/away | Venue | Result |
| East Conference Finals | June 19 | Rugby New York | Home | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Lost, 16–24 |
2023 season
Preseason
| Date | Opponent | Home/away | Location | Result |
| February 8 | Houston SaberCats | Away | SaberCats Stadium | L, 21-34 |
Regular season
| 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 |
Post season
| 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 |
2024 season
Preseason
| Date | Opponent | Home/away | Location | Result |
| January 22 | Dallas Jackals | Neutral | SaberCats Stadium | L, 22-24 |
Regular season
| 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 |
Post season
| 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 |