The New England Free Jacks won’t be taking part in the Major League Rugby regular season until 2020 but in the meantime they have put together an impressive list of exhibition matches beginning this weekend. Boston’s expansion franchise has confirmed eight fixtures against a mix of domestic and overseas sides.

Having already played two matches in the fall – against Toronto and New York – the Free Jacks will suit up again on Saturday as they play an indoor scrimmage against the Utah Warriors. The match will take at the Zions Bank Field House in Herriman. Admission is free.

They will then host the ‘Cara Cup’ beginning in mid-March with development sides from all four of Ireland’s Guinness Pro 14 teams set to compete. Matches will be played at Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth, the GAA Field at Canton’s Irish Cultural Centre, and Harvard University’s Roberto A. Mignone Field. Tickets are now available on the Free Jacks website.

On May 18 they will host a Toronto Arrows reserve side at a venue to be determined. All-Ireland League Division 1 side Lansdowne FC arrive for a match on June 1 in Canton, and then an historic match with fellow expansion side Old Glory DC will take place on June 15.

CARA CUP FIXTURES

March 16 – New England Free Jacks vs Connacht Eagles – Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth

March 20 – Connacht Eagles vs Ulster Ravens – Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth

March 24 – New England Free Jacks vs Ulster Ravens – Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth

April 6 – New England Free Jacks vs Munster ‘A’ – Irish Cultural Centre, Canton

April 10 – Munster ‘A’ vs Leinster ‘A’ – Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth

April 14 – New England Free Jacks vs Leinster ‘A’ – Roberto A. Mignone Field, Boston

EXHIBITION FIXTURES

February 9 – Utah Warriors vs New England Free Jacks – Zions Bank Field House, Herriman

May 18 – New England Free Jacks vs Toronto Arrows – tba, Boston

June 1 – New England Free Jacks vs Lansdowne FC – Irish Cultural Centre, Canton

June 15 – New England Free Jacks vs Old Glory DC – tba, Boston