The Free Jacks are excited to announce the signing of lively California raised center, Mikaele Lomano. At 6’1”, 225 lbs, the athletic 24 year old back has his eyes set on steamrolling his way through the league come 2022.
On signing with the Free Jacks, Lomano expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to start the next chapter in his life. “First and foremost I want to thank God. I’m truly blessed to excel my rugby career with the New England Free Jacks and I’m looking forward to meeting the coaching staff, teammates, and experiencing a new environment. Can’t wait to put in the work!”
A familiar face in the northern California rugby hotbed, upon leaving American River College in 2017 Mikaele went on to play with the Sacramento Blackhawks Rugby Club before making his way over to the Pacific Rugby Premiership in 2018, where he would ply his trade for the distinguished San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Football Club.
Lomano continued to make headway in his rugby career in 2019, joining the Sacramento Young Tigers within the California Rugby League. The ambitious young center impressed in his first year in the league, quickly demonstrating his linebreak ability and tendency to wreak havoc on opposing defenses, eventually rewarded with the CRL Rookie of the Year Award in 2019.
This past summer, Lomano was selected as one of 27 young athletes handpicked from various talent ID camps nationwide to attend the USA Rugby High Performance Pathways camp in Glendale, Colorado. “Mika showed good growth and adapted well to a full time environment within the pathway program. I am happy we were a part of his journey on to the MLR,” commented Pathways Head Coach Paul Emerick.
“Mika caught our eye as a standout athlete during a site visit of the USA rugby development academy initiative earlier in the year,” noted Free Jacks Performance Director, Tom Kindley. He has a great feel for the game, naturally runs great lines, and is a relentless ball carrier making him a weapon with the ball in hand.”
“As importantly, the pathway staff were impressed with his coachability, work-rate and attitude during his 9 week immersion. He has a huge ceiling and we are excited to help him on his development journey as a professional.”
With the 2022 season just around the corner, New England once again bolsters its roster, this time with an athletic weapon in the backline. Free Jacks fans will be on the lookout for Mikaele Lomano as he steps onto the pitch in the upcoming MLR season.
