RUNY and Free Jacks Announce Cold War

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RUNY & New England Free Jacks Announce Cold War

Pre-season match to prepare RUNY for the 2019 Major League Rugby season

Opportunity for local New England talent to emerge ahead of the Free Jacks entry into the 2020 MLR competition

Admission Free for registered New England Free Jacks supporters

NEW YORK, NY (November 15, 2018)– Rugby United New York, New York City’s first professional rugby franchise, will compete against the New England Free Jacks in a preseason ‘friendly’ on Saturday December 1, 2019, at the newly built rugby pitch at Union Point Sports Complex—home of Boston RFC, South Shore Anchors, and the Women’s Premier League (WPL)’s Beantown RFC.

“New York and New England have had an intense rivalry stretching back to Colonial America. There is no better way to celebrate the beginning of professional rugby in the Northeast than a showdown between the Free Jacks and RUNY,” said RUNY General Manager James English. “It’s a great opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition as we start building towards our inaugural MLR season.”

“RUNY is a quality outfit. They have recruited talent well for their first year into MLR, on top of a good local rugby market, and with Mike Tolkin have a tremendous coach at the helm,” noted Free Jacks CEO Alex Magleby. “For us it will be a fun challenge to learn a bit more about ourselves before we plow into a formidable and awesome spring exhibition season.”

The inaugural “Cold War” between rivals New York and New England will be the first preseason fixture for the New York City based franchise. The Free Jacks will use this opportunity to prepare for an action packed 2019 exhibition season, including the recently announced competition with the four Irish provincial teams—Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster in March & April 2019.

The event’s admission will be free to the public, and will be standing room only. The “rugby festival” begins at noon ET with quality pre-game food and beverages on-site leading into a 1:00pm ET kickoff.

Rugby United New York enters the Major League Rugby competition this season with an opening match visiting the San Diego Legion on Sunday, January 27.

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About Rugby United New York

Rugby United New York is a professional rugby team who joined Major League Rugby as an associate member in 2018, playing a brief, but successful exhibition season. Their first full MLR schedule will take place in 2019. RUNY’s vision is to bring the excitement of professional rugby to the New York sports landscape. The use of rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, and discipline will help to educate, inspire and connect with the New York Community. Rugby United New York, the city’s first professional rugby franchise, strives to unite the entire rugby community and enrich it at every level throughout the region. The team was founded by James Kennedy of the Murphy Kennedy Group, who is an active supporter of grassroots rugby.

For more information on RUNY:

Andrew Newman

(908) 420-7078

[email protected]

www.rugbyunitedny.com

About New England Free Jacks

Rugby Club New England, aka the Free Jacks, is greater Boston’s 1st Professional Rugby team representing all the greatness of the six New England states on and off the field. The Free Jacks were named the 9th member of Major League Rugby on September 20th and will compete in the 2020 MLR regular season.

For more information onthe Free Jacks:

Owen Scannell

(203) 273-4033

[email protected]

www.freejacks.com

About MLR

MLR is a professional rugby league that launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR is the pinnacle of American rugby, and provides a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes. For more information, visit usmlr.com.