The New England Free Jacks re-signed Mitch Wilson through the 2022 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old fullback/wing (25 in April) is 5’9″, and 175lbs.
Following his senior year with Life University and as a Collegiate All American, Mitch demonstrated his versatility in the starting XV for the Free Jacks’ first four matches at fullback and left-wing. He was a key contributor in the team’s attack and his offloads assisted others in scoring. In the truncated season, he carried for more than 250 meters and broke the gain line more than 90% of the time.
Mitch is from Sydney, Australia, and grew up playing rugby league for Emu Plain Rugby League Club. Beginning at the Under 6 level, Mitch built a foundation of rugby skills at the Western Sydney club through his youth. At 14 Mitch made the code switch through his rugby union debut with Hawkesbury Valley Rugby Club.
When he was 15, his family moved to Oviedo, Florida, and attended Oviedo High School. He was a standout rugby player for Orlando Rugby Under-19s. He moved up the age-grade ladder, earning All-American honors in the process.
After graduating from Oviedo, he attended Life University from 2015-2019, graduating Magna cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration. The team won three USA Rugby D1A National Championships in 2016, 2018, and 2019 and he was the captain from 2017-2019.
Mitch represented the United States at the 2016 World Rugby Under-20 Trophy in Zimbabwe, was named a USA Rugby Collegiate All-American four years in a row, and captained the 2018 Collegiate All-American squad that handily defeated the Glendale Raptors. In 2017 he played for the All-Americans against Oxford University in 2017.
In 2017 and 2018, Mitch represented the USA Selects in Montevideo in the Americas Pacific Challenge (APC) where they took on quality sides such as Uruguay XV, Tonga A, and Argentina XV.
Mitch also was a coach while at Life University for Atlanta Youth Rugby and is currently an Assistant Coach at Dartmouth College.
Look for Mitch to bring energy to the Free Jacks for the 2021 season as he did in 2020. He scored the first MLR try for the Free jacks.
New England Free Jacks Comments
“I’m pumped to be back with the Free Jacks for another two years,” said Wilson. “We were only just getting underway in 2020 and with the mix of new and returning talent, I can’t wait to get back with the squad and continue to build on the great work to date.”
“It’s great to have Mitch back for 2021,” noted Technical Advisor, James Willocks. “One of the top domestic products has added great value in a short season last year while growing tremendously as a player and a leader. Notably, Mitch etched his name into the record books scoring the first try in Free Jacks MLR history. We are excited to see what he can produce next season.”
Join Mitch and the Free Jacks for a virtual meet and greet, “News and Brews,” on Thursday, September 10th. Grab a Free Jacks IPA and join the virtual gathering and get to know the newest Free Jacks and the returning players. RSVP using the link here: https://www.freejacks.com/news-and-brews/.
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