2024 preaseason letter from Free Jacks head coach, scott mathie

Dear Free Jacks Family,

With much excitement, the 2024 Free Jacks assembled this last week in preparation for another massive season for the franchise. The wait has been a long one but well worth it given the amount of energy in the facility this week, all about to embark on five grueling weeks of pre-season in a quest to continue the growing success of the Free Jacks.

We welcome back a large contingent of our group from 2023 which bodes well for cohesion and continuity on the field. Added to this the fine work done by GM Tom Kindley, we have recruited players that we believe will continue to live by the values of this franchise. Humble and hardworking young men, they are hungry for success and ready to enjoy every minute of that process. The off season has been spent wisely-aside from recruitment we have been preparing all the necessary organizational comforts for arriving players, connecting with current players on their growth across different competitions around the world, and lastly putting together our training periodization plan for this pre-season, all culminating with our first official fixture against new MLR team Anthem Rugby Carolina on the 3rd of March.

To ensure a smooth-running program with all the Free Jack flair that we have come to embrace takes a massive team effort. This off season has shown just that. From staff to fans we have seen this come to life in a big way, everyone pulling together to keep us at the top of the MLR. This season will be no different as we look to defend our title. But what was acceptable in 2023 can no longer be the standard for 2024. We need to keep growing and embrace that hunger to improve that has come to define so much of what this Free Jack Experience is all about. We are striving to produce a product that all our supporters can be proud of, and we know that they will answer this call bigger and better than ever. We will face stiff opposition this year, that is the nature of holding the title but that is the greatest privilege of all, and the greatest opportunity for growth. What a challenge! 

We can’t wait to see you all at our first home game on Saturday, the 9th of March, vs Old Glory, at our first ever Champtoberfest! So bring the lederhosen and your friends, and let’s go out there and make more memories.

Let’s Ride! 

Scott Mathie

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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 https://freejacks.com/.