The Massachusetts-based Major League Rugby franchise has signed yet another Otago player.
Loose forward Sam Fischli is the latest man from the South to sign up for a season with the New England Free Jacks, meaning he will miss most or all of the Dunedin club season for the Taieri Eels.
Fischli (24) made his debut for Otago in 2020, playing twice, and had his best season in 2021, when he started all 10 NPC games on the blindside flank and was the province’s forward of the year.
He appeared in just four games (two starts) last year.
Fischli, originally from Milton, joins a Free Jacks team that has a distinctly Otago flavour.
Otago and University halfback Kieran McClea joined the Free Jacks last month.
Canadian international and former Otago lock Josh Larsen remains on the books, the general manager is former Dunedin man Tom Kindley, and former Otago Rugby Football Union staffer Thomas Grant is also part of the off-field team.
Fischli joins a team containing Waikato captain Mitch Jacobson, Hawke’s Bay front-rowers Joel Hintz and Kianu Kereru-Symes, and Taranaki first five Jayson Potroz.
