Owen Clarke — Back Row 

The Pick

Owen Clarke’s path to the Free Jacks is anything but conventional. A two-way athlete who spent his college years as a Division I football player before pivoting back to rugby, Clarke brings rare physical tools to New England: a hard-charging running style, big-play athleticism, and strong tackling and set-piece work in both the lineout and the scrum.

The Bio

Clarke’s rugby résumé started in middle school and carried him to two All-American seasons in high school at Staples (Westport, CT) and Choate Rosemary Hall, along with invitations to three USA Rugby camps. He went on to represent the USA U20 side in Amsterdam, starting and scoring in two of three matches as the U.S. won the tournament.

At Brown, Clarke spent four years as a defensive end, starting two seasons across 30 games and earning National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society honors. This past spring, with football finished, he returned to rugby full-time — starting for Brown’s 7s side as it finished ranked top five nationally, then starting for the NCR All-Star tournament champions in January. He was named an NCR All-American and NCR Scholastic All-American, and most recently started both of his appearances for the Free Jacks Independents. Clarke has also come up through the Free Jacks Academy, giving the coaching staff an up-close look at his development well before draft day.

Cormac Saint — Scrumhalf

The Pick

Cormac Saint arrives in New England after a standout senior season running the show at scrumhalf for the Cal Golden Bears. At 6’0″, 185 lbs, Saint brings the size to match up physically at the professional level while retaining the game management and distribution skills that made him a fixture in Cal’s matchday 23.

The Bio

Born in England before his family relocated to the U.S., Saint grew up playing for Mother Lode Rugby Club, where he served as team captain on multiple occasions, before moving through top developmental pathways including the Bay Area Sharks and Giltinis rugby academies. His representative career includes stints with the Celtic Barbarians and NorCal All Stars, and he helped the North American Lions finish as runner-up at the 2021 Dubai 7s U19 invitational.

A four-year football letterman at Ponderosa High School who graduated with a 3.92 GPA, Saint balanced a business degree at Cal with reserve Sevens duty before making his mark as a fifteens scrumhalf. His college coaches point to his composure and leadership as what stands out most: one noted that Saint “consistently exercises good judgment and adjusts his style to captain our team, to motivate and form a cohesive team group” — the kind of quality the Free Jacks value as he begins his professional career in New England.

William Lindsay — Utility Back

The Pick

William Lindsay brings leadership and instincts to New England’s back line. A senior captain at Mary Washington, Lindsay was the player his team leaned on in the biggest moments — the kind of composure under pressure the Free Jacks look for in a pick. 

The Bio

A native of Christchurch, New Zealand, and a Christchurch Boys High School product, Lindsay grew up playing rugby, rowing, and rugby league before serving as his high school’s Rowing Captain. At Mary Washington, the 5’10” back capped his senior season by captaining the Eagles to a 24-18 win over St. Thomas in the Cowpens Bowl, breaking the line for 20 meters off a fielded kick to spark the scoring sequence and coming up with a crucial defensive penalty late to help seal the win. 

Stay up to date with our latest signings and all Free Jacks news by subscribing to our new and improved weekly news letter!

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