The U23 Independents Team Will Compete Against Rugby United New York in a Home and Away Series This Spring

Free Jacks to Hold Selection Days on May 1 & May 2

Boston, MA – April 23 – The New England Free Jacks today announced the first competition fixtures for the Independents Academy Team. The Men’s New England Independents are set to play a home and away double header with Rugby United New York’s U23 side on May 23nd and July 3rd  with Women’s Independents competition to be added. To prepare for the matches, the Free Jacks will hold two selection days on May 1 and May 2 to assess and develop players from across New England.

“We are looking forward to our first competition with our Academy teams in 2021,” commented Tom Kindley, Free Jacks Performance Manager. “We are starting off with a focus on 18 to 23 year old players, but look forward to opportunities ahead for both Junior Jacks (18 and younger) and the Senior Independents (ages 23+) groups. It is great to provide this age group a key opportunity to represent New England and to put some fuel on the RUNY-Free Jacks rivalry.”

“A massive thank you must go out to the coaching and management staff who are the driving force behind the side, we look forward to working closely with a strong group of local coaches for their continued development and continuity across all academy layers.”

The Free Jacks will host North and South selection days on May 1st at Pine Banks, Malden, and May 2nd, at a location to be confirmed. These selection days will build upon the Free Jacks Academy’s Regional Tracking days in which the Free Jacks Academy staff hosted 8 different Regional Training Groups across New England to work with, develop and identify local players. Following the ID sessions this May, a wider training squad will be selected for the following weeks preparation for the spring competition with Rugby United New York.

The ID sessions will be open for women and men across New England ages 18 to 23. Registration is now open for the selection days at freejacks.com/academy.

The Independents are the official Free Jacks senior development squads for men and women ages 18 and above. The competition with Rugby United New York marks the first of an exciting series of competition days in 2021 and beyond as the Free Jacks look to develop youth, high school and senior rugby in New England. Junior Jacks U16 and U18 competition details to be announced in the coming weeks following the MYRO high school season.

New England Free Jacks head coach, Ryan Martin, will be working closely with the coaching staff of the side to monitor developing prospects and establish a strong foundation across the academy system.

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Dates:

May 1 – Selection Day (North)

May 2 – Selection Day (South)

May 5 – Training Session (Wider Group)

May 9 – Training Session (Wider Group)

May 12 – Training Session (Competition Squad)

May 16 – Training Session (Competition Squad)

May 17 – Training Session (Competition Squad)

May 19 – Training Session (Competition Squad)

May 23 – Competition Away

July 3 – Competition Home

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