The New England Free jacks signed Brad Hemopo for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old (25 in September) loose forward, who is capable of filling in at lock, is 6’4″ and 254 lbs.
Brad was born in New Zealand. He is athletic, explosive and played for the Christchurch Boys HS 1st XV before being selected for the NZ Secondary Schools Barbarians. He was an NZ U20 trialist, has played with Canterbury Development, was the University of Canterbury Player of the Year in 2017.
Brad played with the New Zealand Maori U21s, Provincial Rugby Sevens with Canterbury, and some preseason and mid season Super Rugby games in 2013, 2014, and 2016 with the Crusaders.
He comes to the Free Jacks from the Manly Marlins in Sydney’s Shute Shield. In April he also played with the Penguins in the Hong Kong Tens.
New England Free jacks commented about Brad saying that “Overall he is just a good down to earth lad with excellent character.”
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