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The theme to the 2022 Major League Rugby season for the New England Free Jacks might well be the first word of their name. New stadium, new coaches, new team. For a second straight year there is a large turnover for the organization and fans might be hoping that things settle down a little moving forward.
Of course not all the changes were by design. In fact the team performed well last season, maybe slightly ahead of expectations. With so many alterations this season one could be forgiven for not really knowing what to expect this time around. Below we’ll try to make some sense of all the changes.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
TEAM HISTORY
| YEAR | SEASON | RANK | FINALS |
| 2020 | 1-4 | 9 of 12 | – |
| 2021 | 10-6 | 6 of 12 | – |
It’s been a slow and steady build for the Free Jacks, who started out with an exhibition campaign that began in the fall of 2018. Their origins date back even further to the spring of that year when the Boston Mystics, an extension of the Mystic River club, played two games each against Rugby United New York and the Ontario (now Toronto) Arrows.
Josh Smith moved from the Mystics to the Free Jacks and led the side in what was a difficult and shortened first campaign. Ryan Martin took over last year and by the end of the season had built a solid outfit that won five of its last seven games. Their season finale took place at their new home in Quincy.
COACHING STAFF
Ryan Martin would have been retained as Head Coach but an opportunity in Super Rugby knocked and those don’t come often. Taking his place is another promising young coach who might himself be a target for top-tier clubs in the future. Scott Mathie is a former professional player who achieved impressive results with Griquas in South Africa’s Currie Cup. His assistant is Mike Rogers, a forwards specialist from Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. Tom Kindley is the team’s Performance Director and Ewan Brumwell has switched from player to Strength and Conditioning Coach.
FRONT ROW
| MLR 2021 | POS | MLR 2022 |
| Kyle Ciquera Sef Fa’agase Quentin Newcomer |
LH Prop | Kyle Ciquera Alex Johnston Quentin Newcomer Tevita Sole |
| Stephan Coetzee Pieter Jansen Vili Toluta’u |
Hooker | Foster DeWitt Pieter Jansen Mills Sanerivi |
| Erich de Jager Kensuke Hatakeyama Spencer Krueger |
TH Prop | Herman Agenbag Erich de Jager Spencer Krueger |
There is some continuity here with 2/3 of last year’s first choice front row returning. Sef Fa’agase has returned to Australia though South African pair Pieter Jansen and Erich de Jager remain. American trio Kyle Ciquera, Quentin Newcomer, and Spencer Kruger also continue.
Newcomer was previously a tighthead but filled in admirably at loosehead last season and joins newcomer Tevita Sole, a Tonga u20 international, as options on both sides of the scrum. Alex Johnston is a loosehead specialist and older brother of flanker Joe Johnston, both US-eligible, who arrives from New Zealand club rugby.
On the tighthead side look out for Herman Agenbag, a young South African age-grade rep, along with de Jager and Krueger. Fan-favorite Kensuke Hatakeyama has returned to Japan, while draft pick Anthony Adamcheck opted not to join the team after trialing in the fall.
New Canadian cap Foster DeWitt and New Zealander Mills Sanerivi are the new hookers with Stephan Coetzee and Vili Toluta’u departing. Sanerivi can also play in the back row. Local prospect Connor Robinson is on a development contract.
SECOND ROW
| MLR 2021 | POS | MLR 2022 |
| Conor Kindregan Josh Larsen Ronan McCusker Jackson Thiebes Matt Wirken |
Lock | Javon Camp-Villalovos Josh Larsen Reegan O’Gorman Stan van den Hoven Mikaea Wynyard |
Club captain Josh Larsen is the only returning lock from 2021. He is joined by fellow Canadian international Reegan O’Gorman this season, with Dutch giant Stan van den Hoven arriving via New Zealand. Javon Camp-Villalovos and Mikaea Wynyard are both part of the USA’s age grade development system with the latter only 18 and on a development deal.
Jackson Thiebes was one of the team’s best forwards last year but has opted to pursue a career outside rugby. Ronan McCusker signed for English Championship club Doncaster, while Matt Wirken has most recently been playing with the Kansas City Blues. Conor Kindregan has also departed.
BACK ROW
| MLR 2021 | POS | MLR 2022 |
| Evan Geist Justin Johnson Joe Johnston Tera Mtembu |
Flanker | Cam Davidowicz Justin Johnson Joe Johnston Slade McDowall |
| Wian Conradie | No8 | Jesse Parete Terrell Peita |
Wian Conradie proved an inspired signing in 2021 but was then snapped up by Gloucester in the English Premiership. Tera Mtembu has called time on his playing career. Local standout Cam Davidowicz, a development squad player last season, has been elevated to the senior squad in place of Evan Geist and can play across the back row.
Three players arrive from New Zealand. Openside specialist Slade McDowall has been a standout with Otago at provincial level, while Jesse Parete was a regular for the Chiefs in Super Rugby in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. 21-year-old No8 Terrell Peita was in New Zealand’s u20 squad before the World Championship was cancelled and has already featured for Auckland’s senior side.
HALFBACKS
| MLR 2021 | POS | MLR 2022 |
| Tom Brusati Ollie Engelhart John Poland Sean Yacoubian |
Scrumhalf | Ollie Engelhart John Poland Sean Yacoubian Holden Yungert |
| Harrison Boyle Beaudein Waaka |
Flyhalf | Harrison Boyle Beaudein Waaka |
It’s the same group of halfbacks this season with the exception of one change at scrumhalf. Tom Brusati has signed for Dallas with NOLA starter Holden Yungert taking his roster spot. Along with incumbent John Poland and USA Selects cap Sean Yacoubian, the Free Jacks are well stocked at No9.
Flyhalf looks a bit of a mystery at the moment. Harrison Boyle and Beaudein Waaka shared the position last season and only time will tell who emerges as the preferred option. Waaka has played a lot of his rugby at fullback and spent the off-season with Waikato. American prospect Patrick Sheehy is in the development squad. His father is former Eagle Paul Sheehy, co-owner of Old Glory.
MIDFIELD
| MLR 2021 | POS | MLR 2022 |
| Ewan Brumwell Dougie Fife Aleki Morris-Lome Poasa Waqanibau |
Center | Mika Lomano Le Roux Malan Jack Reeves Wayne van der Bank |
The midfield has a very different look this season. Aleki Morris-Lome and Poasa Waqanibau have departed and Ewan Brumwell, who appeared on the wing last season, is now on the coaching staff. Dougie Fife filled in at outside center but seems more likely to feature in the outside backs this year.
Le Roux Malan and Wayne van der Bank are brought in from South Africa while Jack Reeves is a Canadian-eligible England u20 international on loan from Gloucester. Mika Lomano is a hard-hitting American prospect with experience in rugby league. van der bank is the most experienced and it remains to be seen which combination emerges as favorite.
Cael Hodgson is another who could make his case as a starter after playing for the USA Selects in Uruguay. Fellow draft pick Zach Bastres is on a development contract but is training with the senior side. Both players can also play on the wing.
OUTSIDE BACKS
| MLR 2021 | POS | MLR 2022 |
| Harry Barlow Peceli Rinakama Tuidraki Samusamuvodre Mitch Wilson |
Wing | Paula Balekana Harry Barlow Zach Bastres Cael Hodgson |
| Danny Collins Josateki Degei |
Fullback | Dougie Fife Mitch Wilson |
Harry Barlow secured his place on the left wing last season and added USA Selects appearances to his resume in the fall. On the right side Paula Balekana has been picked up from Houston where he was arguably the team’s best player in 2021. We’ve listed Bastres and Hodgson as wingers for squad comparison purposes thought they might be more accurately placed in the midfield.
Dougie Fife and Mitch Wilson have vastly different physiques but offer similar versatility as they can cover center, wing, or fullback. Fife’s height makes him a strong option at No15 to deal with opposition kicks, but Wilson is a fearless player whose strength in contact belies his relatively small stature.
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Josateki Degei have returned to Fiji, with the former signing on for Super Rugby with the Drua. Danny Collins and Peceli Rinakama are both local club players.
2022 OUTLOOK
From an operational viewpoint the move to Veterans Memorial Stadium, which is now under the team’s control, should be a major boost to the team. If they can sort out the field lines it could become one of the better venues in the league, and is certainly a significant step up from Union Point.
The coaching change was not ideal in terms of continuity but in Mathie they have another ambitious personality with a high ceiling. How quickly he can mold the team to his vision is just one of the questions. Who ultimately makes the lineup is another, while the team seems to lack a front-line goal kicker.
It’s not hard to come up with a competitive side on paper from the above talent, but it’s a similar situation to last season where there are a large number of unknown quantities. Their schedule also suggests similar results, with a tricky few weeks on the road to start but trending upwards as the season progresses. On that basis we’ll predict a mid-table finish in the Eastern Conference but betting on anything at this point is probably a bad idea.
