New England Free Jacks signed New Zealander Jesse Parete through the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old back-row (30 in April) is 6’4″ and 245 lbs.
In 2022 he played 424 minutes in 8 matches, starting once, and scored one try. He then returned to Taranaki where he played 447 minutes in 7 starts. Prior to the 2023 season, the Free jacks announced that he was not returning for 2023, but circumstances change and he is back with New England.
Jesse is from Manaia Town District, New Zealand, and attended New Plymouth Boys’ High School. He began playing rugby at the age of 16 with the Melbourne Storm, competing in Australia’s National Rugby League.
In 2014 Parete returned home to playing with Taranaki in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship competition. He played with the Bay of Plenty in 2016 and 2017 and his performance earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Waikato Chiefs the following Super Rugby season.
In 2020 he joined the Super Rugby Highlanders and in 2021 the Yokohama Canon Eagles in Japan’s Top League.
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