Free Jacks Awards Night 2024

Free Jacks Awards Night 2024
On June 29th Free Jacks played the last game of the regular season and clinched their place as seed No.1 in the Eastern Conference, locking in the home Conference Semifinal against Old Glory D.C. on July 20th.Â
After the final game of the season against Anthem R.C, the Free Jacks held their annual awards night where the coaching staff and rugby administration came together to celebrate standout players from the season.
Quick List of Award Winners
Alloy Therapeutics Try of the year
Reece MacDonald (LA away)
Quincy College Rookie of the Year
Piers von Dadelszen
RTIC Breakthrough Player of the Year
Holden Yungert
Community Impact Award
Kenny & Barbara Thomson
Forged Irish Stout’s Forward of the Year
Andrew Quattrin
Forged Irish Stout’s Back of the Year
Jayson Potroz
2024 Minuteman Recipient
Ben Lesage
Players Player of the Year
Wayne Van Der Bank
Delta Player of the Year
Wayne Van Der Bank
1st Regiment Player of the YearÂ
(As voted by Free Jacks Fans)
Wayne Van Der Bank
Alloy Therapeutics Try of the year
Video Featuring: Reece MacDonald Try against LA in round 9
Having trouble watching this video? click hereÂ
Award: This award historically kicks off awards night on a lighter tone, celebrating the best tries of the season. The award itself goes to the player that scores the most impressive try of the regular season.
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Nominations: Kaleb Geiger (Seattle), Reece MacDonald (LA), Wayne van der Bank (Houston), Jayson Potroz (Chicago Away), Reece MacDonald (Anthem Away)
Winner: Reece MacDonald, LA
In a stunning individual effort, MacDonald at fullback, receives a shanked kick 64 meters from the try line from a LA player. MacDonald puts the ball to boot into the LA try zone and blindsides the LA fullback with a heroic dive to score the try momentarily before the LA player can ground it.Â

Image Featuring: Reece MacDonald (Center)Â
Quincy College Rookie of the Year

Image Featuring: Piers Von Dadelszen
Award: This award goes to a player in their first season as a full-time professional rugby player who has adapted well into the professional game.
Nominations: Danyon Morgan-Puterangi, Ethan Fryer, Piers Von Dadelszen
Winner: Piers Von Dadelszen
Piers von Dadelszen has demonstrated versatility, playing flanker and lock this season. Piers has competed well for a regular spot in the 23 and demonstrated his talents in the aerial game and broken play.Â
RTIC Breakthrough Player of the Year

Image Featuring: Holden Yungert
Award: This award goes to the player that has made the most significant developments in their game during the season.
Nominations: Ethan Fryer, Holden Yungert, Seta Baker
Winner: Holden Yungert
Holden Yungert is a Major League Rugby veteran having notched his 75th appearance this season. Holden has had to bide his time, making most of his appearances for the Free Jacks in cameo bench roles during his first two seasons with the club. This season however, Holden has come to command a starting role, showing quality in his speed of distribution and big shifts in his game management skills.
Community Impact Award

Image Featuring: Kenny & Barbara Thomson
Award: This award goes to a community member who has gone above and beyond in the development and support of the Free Jacks Community.
Winner: Kenny & Barbara Thomson
Kenny and Barbara Thomson (founders of the Free Jacks supporters groups the 1st Regiment), received the 2024 community impact award. Kenny and Barbara have dedicated themselves to not only growing the Free Jacks community, but to helping players establish themselves in the USA, many of whom are away from home for the first time.
Kenny and Barbara have also supported the growth of youth rugby, making substantial donations to the Free Jacks Foundation and by donating kit and equipment to the New England Independents.
Forged Irish Stout’s Forward of the Year

Image Featuring: Andrew Quattrin
Award: This award goes to the best performing forward of the regular season.
Nominations: Andrew Quattrin, Conor Keys, Kyle Ballie, Martin Sigren
Winner: Andrew Quattrin
Andrew has led the Free Jacks forward pack from the front this season. Andrew consistently leads physicality stats on both sides of the ball, and is a quality set piece practitioner, regularly scoring tries at the back of well constructed Free Jacks mauls. A durable, hard working and committed player.
Forged Irish Stout’s Back of the Year

Image Featuring: Jayson Potroz
Award: This award goes to the best back of the year.
Nominations: Jayson Potroz, Reece MacDonald, Wayne van der BankWinner: Jayson Potroz
Potroz possesses a superb kicking, running and passing game, keeping opposition defenses at bay. This season, Potroz has built off a quality first season in the league, and continued to prove he is the best flyhalf in the competition, leading his team with superb decision making and game management ability.
2024 Minuteman Recipient

Image Featuring: Ben LeSage
Award: The Minuteman award is the most prestigious at the Free Jacks. It goes to the player who best embodies the Minuteman spirit, putting the team first, and demonstrating reliability, selflessness, and leading through their actions for the good of the team and community.
Winner: Ben LeSage
Ben is a superb ambassador of the club and sport. Consistently on-field, Ben is one of our hardest working players. Ben has super high standards and leads from the front through his actions, particularly unseen efforts.Â
Off-field, Ben’s desire to create change in the community has been admirable, and seen him lead efforts and involve Free Jacks players in many initiatives including ‘Operation Sock Drop’ (a clothing donation effort for those in need), a weekly Quincy Veteran food drop off in conjunction with Roses Bounty, and prison book program, which curated reading lists and supplied books to those in prison.
Players Player of the Year

Image Featuring: Wayne Van Der Bank
Award: This award goes to the player of the year, as voted by their teammates and peers.
Nominations: Andrew Quattrin, Jayson Potroz, Reece MacDonald, Wayne van der Bank
Winner: Wayne van der Bank
Wayne van der Bank has had a sublime season on both sides of the ball this year. A player who is able to create something from nothing, Wayne has impressed his teammates through not only his tackle-breaking and try-scoring ability, but also his massive defensive motor.
Delta Player of the Year

Image Featuring: Wayne Van Der Bank
Award: This award goes to the most outstanding player of the year
Nominations: Andrew Quattrin, Jayson Potroz, Reece MacDonald, Wayne van der Bank
Winner: Wayne van der Bank
Wayne has had to be patient to express his capabilities, not featuring in last year’s playoff-series, Wayne prepared diligently for what has been a surreal regular season.Â
A lethal attacking player, Wayne leads the league in tackle breaks and defenders beaten. He is among top performers in ball carries, carry meters and offloads. On the other side of the ball, Wayne has shown his physicality and tenacity, among league leaders for tackles made, and dominant tackles.Â
These stats are indicative of how effective Wayne is in the midfield on both sides of the ball, and how efficient his in-game actions are.Â
1st regiment player of the year

Image Featuring: Phil Harris of the Jacks Rangers Show (left) Wayne van der Bank (Center) Kenny Tomson founder of the 1st Regiment (Right)
Award: This award goes to the player of the year, as voted by Free Jacks Fans
Winner: Wayne van der Bank
The Conference Semifinal kicks off from Veterans Memorial Stadium at 10am on July 20th. Before the Free Jacks match, watch the NERFU Summer Sevens Championships, grab a beer at the Wallop! Beer Fest, listen to Live Music Turn It Up!
Gates open at 10am, kick-off starts at 5 p.m. so get to Fort Quincy early to enjoy the full day of festivities. Buy your tickets here! The match will be broadcast on FS1 and The Rugby Network.
For more opportunities to engage with the Free Jacks community, stay updated on future Free Jacks matches, festivals, and announcements through the Free Jacks’ news page: www.freejacks.com/news
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