Update: On November 11, 2022, it was confirmed by Rugby New York that Brad had signed with the team for 2023.
Rugby New York obtained Brad Tucker from the Seattle Seawolves in exchange for 2023 salary cap considerations for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old lock/back-row (30 in October) is 6’5″ and 255 lbs.
Brad played in 42 matches for the Seattle Seawolves, the 5th most for the team, while scoring 7 tries.
He played 12 matches in 2022, including the MLR Shield Final, losing to Rugby New York.
Brad played 366 minutes in 8 matches, starting 7 before an injury curtailed his 2021 season.
During the 2020 season, he started all five matches at lock, playing 375 minutes. Following the season, he played in the World Tens Series with the Ohio Aviators 10s in Bermuda.
During the 2019 season, he played 1396 minutes as a starter in all 18 matches. He scored 7 tries, carried the ball 188 times for 1073 meters, made 6 linebreaks, 8 tackle breaks, 19 offloads, kicked 3 times for 78 meters, and made 296 tackles. He was also named the 2019 Major League Rugby Player of the Year.
Brad and his brother James grew up in Christchurch, going through St Bede’s College and the Canterbury age-grade rugby system. James also played professionally for Waikato and the Super Rugby Chiefs.
Brad also attended St Pius X College and Lincoln University. He played for the Canterbury Under-20s in 2012 and was on their Metro and 7s teams from 2012-2016.
In 2014 he won the Millar Cup award as Club Sportsperson of the Year for Christchurch Football Club. He also played club rugby with the Hamilton Marist and New Plymouth OB.
In 2016 he played provincial rugby in the Mitre 10 Cup competition with Waikato Rugby. His debut was against Manawatū in a Ranfurly Shield challenge. He then moved to Taranaki Rugby in 2017 where he played in 7 matches. He also played for New Zealand Marist at No. 8 for one match and captained the side.
In 2018, Brad moved to the Manawatu Turbos and made 9 appearances. He also played with Christchurch and with the Old Boys Marist.
Brad is a seasoned veteran and brought his international experience to the Seattle Seawolves from 2019 through 2022. He won the MLR Shield in 2019 and advanced to the Championship Final again in 2022.
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