A Letter To Season Members From Free Jacks Head Of Medical, Mike Buonopane

4/10/24

Dear Season Members,

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you for your unwavering support in the stands during a classic April weekend in New England. The weather offered a great opportunity to introduce the newcomer Miami Sharks to the uncomfortable feeling of being at Fort Quincy, with relentless pressure from team and raucous supporters alike.

The team, showing up fresh and re-energized after a much-needed bye week, took advantage of the opportunity as we were able to get a majority of the players available for selection. The long season and nature of the game of rugby offers a medical staff many unique challenges week to week. Our medical staff works hand in hand with the performance staff to make sure that these challenges are well handled quickly.

The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is also very applicable to caring for a rugby team. As you could imagine, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that the players are best prepared and cared for week in and week out, so a massive shout to our daily medical staff – Adam, Ryan and partners Mui Chiropractic, New England School of Therapeutics, and Tufts Medical Center. We have worked hard to create an environment that supports our players’ wellness, both physically and mentally. Our team takes pride in seeing our boys battle on matchday, especially when knowing the hard work they put in to be match-day ready.

This couldn’t be more exemplified than by the return of Le Roux to the 23. Many were watching when he suffered a gruesome injury during the World Cup in the fall. A little over a month after the injury took place, he was back stateside with us rehabbing to get ready for the upcoming season. He came in eager to work and get back to the pitch, all with a smile and positive attitude. The road from the injury was long and not without adversity, but our medical and performance teams worked hard to make sure he would return to be the great player we have been used to seeing excel on the pitch.

Once again, thank you for showing up no matter the weather and supporting us. We can count on the Fort faithful showing up rain, snow, or shine to give us the extra energy needed to get across the line or hold the line against the opposition. Your cheers and jeers create an incredible experience for our boys which makes it easy for them to get up for match day. We look forward to the upcoming top of the table clash with Houston before coming back home to Fort Quincy to take on perennial contender Seattle. We hope to see you on April 20th!

-Mike B

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