MATCH PREVIEW

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS VS CHICAGO HOUNDS

New England Free Jacks (4-2) vs Chicago Hounds (1-5)

When: Saturday, Apr 8, 2023 2pm EST

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy, MA 

Watch: FS1 (In the US), The Rugby Network (Outside of US)

The Free Jacks return home to Quincy this weekend where they will take on the Chicago Hounds for the first time. 

Coming off a spirited 26-24 loss to the Utah Warriors in Salt Lake City, the Free Jacks will be looking to get straight back to their winning ways against the Hounds who are struggling to find their groove so far in their debut season. 

The Free Jacks will field a changed roster that sees Joel Hintz and Sam Fischli returning to the starting line-up. With Wian Conradie’s 1-week suspension in place, captain Mitch Jacobson will pull on his preferred 7 jersey, with Joe Johnston sliding to number 8.

Aerial specialists Filimone and Bastres get starts on the wings, and a new look 10/15 combination is in place with Reece MacDonald and Canadian International Spencer Jones respectively. Off the bench, Canadian International tighthead, Conor Young, stands to make his debut along with the long anticipated return of the electric Le Roux Malan in the 23 -man lineup.

With the Eastern Conference tightening up, the Free Jacks will look to assert their physicality and take it to the traveling Chicago side.

Scouting

A team that benefited from the dissolution of the LA Giltinis and Austin Gilgronis, Chicago are packed with threats. Billy Meakes will be a familiar name to MLR fans who will know that a big key to the game for the Free Jacks will be limiting his time on the ball. Hugh Roach and Charlie Abel make starts to bolster Chicago’s front row, and Argentinian speedster Julian Dominguez has a knack for finding the try-line.

All time against Chicago

No matches recorded

New England Roster 

1. Kyle Ciquera
2. Andrew Quattrin
3. Joel Hintz
4. Semisi Paea
5. Jesse Parete
6. Sam Fischli
7. Mitch Jacobson
8. Joe Johnston
9. John Poland
10. Reece MacDonald
11. Taniela Filimone
12. Wayne van der Bank
13. Ben LeSage
14. Zach Bastres
15. Spencer Jones
16. Mills Sanerivi
17. Foster Dewitt
18. Conor Young
19. Cam Davidowicz
20. Ethan Fryer
21. Holden Yungert
22. Le Roux Malan
23. Jayson Potroz

Free Jacks Rugby Staff: 

  • Tom Kindley (General Manager) 
  • Scott Mathie (Head Coach) 
  • Mike Rogers (Assistant Coach) 
  • Will Webster (Assistant Coach) 
  • Javier Martin (Team Manager)
  • George Petrakos (Head Physical Performance Coach) 
  • Ricci Persico (Assistant Physical Performance Coach)
  • Colton Bennett (Analyst) 
  • Mike Buonopane (Head of Medical)
  • Adam Thomas (Assistant AT/PT)

Chicago Roster 

1 George Thornton
2 Hugh Roach
3 Charles Abel
4 John Cullen
5 Luke White
6 Luke Beauchamp
7 Maclean Jones
8 Michael De Waal
9 Sean Yacoubian
10 Christopher Mattina
11 Julian Domínguez
12 William Meakes
13 Bryce Campbell
14 Mark O’Keeffe
15 Jean Pierre Eloff

16 Mason Koch
17 Timothy Ohlwein
18 Mikaele Felix
19 Samuel Peri
20 Michael Matarazzo
21 Dacoda Worth
22 Michael Baska
23 Luke Carty