The New England Free Jacks are announcing the departure of George Petrakos, the Head of Physical Performance, who played an instrumental role in building a championship-winning team environment and performance culture. Petrakos, known for his innovative approach to physical conditioning and leadership in high-performance environments, has been a critical part of the Free Jacks’ success.

Image Featuring: George Petrakos (Center)

A Proven Background in Elite Performance

Before joining the Free Jacks, Petrakos brought with him a wealth of experience from the upper echelons of international rugby and sports science. His career began with positions at top-tier organizations such as the Leicester Tigers, Rugby Romania, Wasps and Edinburgh Rugby, along with stints with Scotland’s national team. His work also spanned other sports, including his time as the lead strength and conditioning coach for the Irish women’s national hockey team, highlighting his diverse expertise across disciplines.

In 2020, Petrakos joined the Wasps in the English Premiership, where he further developed his methods in load management and individualized performance training. These experiences positioned him perfectly for his next challenge: helping Italy in their preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup​

Image Featuring: George Petrakos (Left) in 2023 after winning the MLR Championship for the first time. 

Impact on the Free Jacks’ Success

Petrakos joined the Free Jacks at a pivotal time, as they aimed to elevate their performance in Major League Rugby (MLR). His influence on the team’s strength, conditioning, and resilience helped to guide the Free Jacks to back-to-back championships. Petrakos’ work ethic, energy, and ability to keep training environments dynamic and challenging enabled the players to reach new heights. An outstanding rapport with players, and league leading understanding of sports science laid new foundations for high performance physical outputs at the Free Jacks​.

Building a Winning Culture

Beyond his technical skills, Petrakos was widely respected for his leadership in fostering an enjoyable workplace for players and staff. His sense of humor, relatability, and dedication made him a key figure in both the locker room and training grounds. Petrakos was integral in helping the team embrace a winning mentality, while also ensuring that player welfare and load management remained paramount. 

Petrakos implemented staff development sessions for staff and internship programs alike, ensuring that reflective practices were utilized regularly and there were opportunities for development at the Free Jacks for staff.

Petrakos not only impacted players’ staff and performance, but was loved by Free Jacks fans. He would often write communications to the Season Members, in what are some of the most loved Coach to Fan communications in the history of the Free Jacks. 

As Petrakos moves on to new challenges, his legacy with the Free Jacks remains clear: he was not only a builder of physical strength but also of character, leading a team that knew how to win and support each other on and off the field.

The Free Jacks family wishes George all the best in his future endeavors and thanks him for his dedication and service to the team.

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