The New England Free Jacks re-signed Conor Kindregan for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 28-year-old lock/back row (29 in March) is 6’4″ and 265 lbs.
Conor played in all five matches for the Free Jacks in 2020, starting three times, twice at lock and once at blindside flanker. He made double-digit tackles in two of his three starts and finished the season with a 92% tackle completion rate. His 13 dominant tackles made him the second-highest dominant tackler across the league in the abbreviated 2020 season. Conor also played a key role during the 2019 exhibition season and Cara Cup, making his debut against the Connacht Eagles.
Conor is from Athenry, Ireland, and attended Presentation College Athenry from 2004-2010. He then attended the University of Limerick from 2010-2015, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wood Science & Technology. While at the University of Limerick on scholarship, he played soccer, hurling and track, and field. In the latter, he ran the 60-meter dash indoors and 100 meters outdoors.
Conor played rugby for Ireland Under-18s and was part of the Connacht Sub-Academy from 2007-2011 and the full Academy from 2012-2014. He played club rugby with Monivea RFC and with Cork Constitution. In 2016, he was The Ulster Bank League Player of the Year. He also played for the Irish Club XV against Scotland. He made the All-Ireland Club 1st XV in the winter of 2019 before joining the Free Jacks.
Conor was selected as a starting lock for the Free Jacks against the Connacht Eagles to open the Cara Cup. He ended the season with the team against Lansdowne FC.
Conor was the Forwards Coach of the WLP Beantown Women’s Rugby Club during the Fall 2019 season, assisting fellow teammates and Head Coach Tadhg Leader and continues in that role in 2020.
New England Free Jacks Comments
“I’m buzzing to be back,” said the grizzled veteran. “We have unfinished business and I want nothing more than to bring the shield down the pike.”
“Conor worked his way into the starting roster by week three and never looked back,” commented 2020 Technical Advisor, James Willocks. “Kinder was the cornerstone of our maul defense and even demonstrated a handy right boot”, he laughed. “He’s the type of player who loves physicality and will go until he drops which we, as an organization that represent and embody, New England, love.”
Fans should expect to see Kindregan leading by example in 2021 as he and the team look to improve on a promising 2020 campaign.
Join Conor and the Free Jacks for a virtual Town Hall “News and Brews,” on October 15. 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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