Rugby United New York signed a Metropolitan New York area player, Joe Brady, for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old tighthead/loosehead prop (30 in July) is 6’0″ and 250 lbs.
Joe is from Cranford, New Jersey, and grew up in a rugby household, living near Unami Park, the home pitch of Union County Rugby Club Mudturtles. His father and brothers played with the club.
Joe began playing flag rugby when he was 10-12 years old and by 13 was playing U19 rugby. The team won the Jersey Cup six years in a row, made Nationals his last three years, and dominated the Northeast Club division. He was also the team’s captain his last two years.
Joe attended Cranford High School where he played football and earned 101 wins in wrestling. In the latter, he was a District Champion, Regional Runner-up, and wrestled in the state tournament. He also continued to play with Union County RFC. During high school, he was a 4-time MetNY U19 selection and played with the USA U17s in their tour of England, as well as the U18s against Ontario.
Following his graduation from Cranford High School, he attended Kutztown University for two years and was an All Mid-Atlantic prop as a freshman and sophomore.
Joe returned to Cranford and played club rugby with Union County. The men’s club won the New Jersey Cup for three consecutive years from 2014-2016, and again in 2018. They were also Empire Division semi-finalists in 2015, 2016, and 2018,
While with Union County, Joe experienced some international competition both home and on tours, as well as playing against other regional domestic teams. These included the Turks and Caicos Islands, English Navy, Hartlepool RFC, New Orleans RFC, and playing in the Maggotfest in 2017.
When joe is not involved in rugby or work, he enjoys spending time trout fishing.
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