The Seattle Seawolves acquired Jared Whippy for the 2022 Major League Rugby season with the Utah Warriors receiving salary cap considerations for 2022. The 31-year-old center/wing is 5’11” and 225 lbs. and has been training with the Seawolves.
When Jared is on the pitch, he is an elusive attacker. Unfortunately for him, a broken leg in 2018, has limited his play to three regular-season matches in the four seasons as a Warrior. In 2018 he played 129 minutes in 2 starts before breaking his leg in the second match. He returned in 2020 playing 16 minutes in one match for the Warriors and then missed the 2021 season.
In Fall 2021 he returned to the pitch and played with the Utah Warriors Selects.
The 2018 MLR season was one that the Whippy family would rather forget. First, his twin brother Josh broke his leg in the final preseason match against the Wolfpack, and then Jared broke his leg against Austin Elite Rugby. He played 129 minutes as a starter in two matches and scored a try.
He was born in Suva, Fiji, and raised in New Zealand. He attended Church College of New Zealand, playing rugby for Alf Daniels. He also represented Fiji in basketball, playing point guard at the South Pacific Games.
In his senior year, he moved to Utah and played rugby with United Rugby, helping the team win the 2010 U19 National Championship. Jared then attended BYU in 2011, playing rugby, and earned All-American status.
The following two years, Jared went on an LDS mission to Buota Branch, Kiribati and six weeks later transferred to Marakei before joining his brother Josh in South Tarawa.
Following the mission, Jared returned to BYU from 2014-2018, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Business. Jared played rugby with the team again from 2014-2016, winning two National Championships in 2014 and 2015, and was an All-American in 2014 and 2015.
In 2016 and 2017 Jared played club for Rugby Utah 7s, winning the National Championship both years. He also played club rugby for Humless.
In 2018, Jared joined the Utah Warriors and although his first season was cut short, he hopes to return to the form that made him a key member of the backline. He also returned to school to pursue a Master of Business Administration Degree at Western Governors’ University.
Jared, like many team members, is married and his wife Kaitlyn’s support and his extended family are invaluable.
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