Quincy, MA — October 25, 2022 — The New England Free Jacks are excited to announce the signing of 6’6 Canadian lock, Conor keys.
Born and raised in Stittsville, Ontario, Keys began his rugby career with the Barhaven Scottish at the U12 level before moving on to play at Sacred Heart High School and select squads U18 Eastern Ontario and U19 Lower Canada Voyageurs. While attending and playing for the University of Victoria, Keys was called up to the national U20 side and earned his first caps for men’s Canada’s men’s XV’s. Keys further developed his game overseas with stints in the New Zealand and English club scenes before landing with Rugby ATL for the past three seasons.
“I’m most excited to join a great sports city in New England,” commented Keys. “Some of the best and most historic sports teams in every league are in Boston and I’m hoping to add a mark to that history. My goal is to win the MLR shield.”
Keys will bolster the Free Jacks second row with a wealth of experience and physicality alongside fellow Canada stalwart Josh Larsen, the two recently combining for Canada’s ‘A’ side against Chile XV in Brazil this past weekend. At 26 years of age, Keys has won 28 caps to date for Rugby Canada, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup, since making his debut in 2017. Keys has also been a mainstay in the second row of East Coast rivals, Rugby ATL, ammassing 33 MLR appearances including the 2021 MLR championship match against the LA Giltinis.
“Conor is a hard-working, no-nonsense second row who does the fundamentals really well,” commented General Manager Tom Kindley. “We think he will excel here under the tutelage of our coaching staff and add physicality to our tight 5. He’s a good fit for our team, organization, and region.”
Outside of rugby, Keys is a coffee fanatic, enjoys playing hockey, and is a multi-talented musician.
About New England Free Jacks: The Free Jacks are an aspiring and innovative live events, media, and consumer products organization. The core brand in the portfolio is The New England Free Jacks, the humble hard-working free-spirited professional rugby team competing in the emergent and exhilarating Major League Rugby (MLR), the premier North American professional rugby competition. For more information, please visit www.FreeJacks.com.
About Major League Rugby: Major League Rugby is a professional sports league, entering its fifth season and represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 13 teams in 2021, featuring 12 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised on CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 2, among other national and local market platforms. Select matches are available to stream live in North America on The Rugby Network, and all matches are available on The Rugby Network for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition, while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit www.MajorLeague.Rugby
