Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It was party time in Quincy's Kilroy Square on Sunday for the New England Free Jacks.
Greater Boston's Major League Rugby team recently won their second title in two years with a 20-11 victory over the Seattle Seawolves.
The team returned to their stomping grounds for a championship celebration that made up in good spirits what it lacked in duck boats.
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"I think it gives you some street cred, particularly in a city like Boston," Free Jacks GM Tom Kindley said of the big win.
"To be honest, I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet," said club captain Josh Larsen. "But mate, it’s awesome. We had to go through quite a bit of adversity this year."
Larsen told WBZ NewsRadio the club has seen steady attendance growth during home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium; it certainly doesn't hurt when the team takes home the trophy in back-to-back years.
"We’re getting 4-5,000 every game, so I’m seeing the growth of it, but the key thing is, I think, that you’re seeing a lot of returning supporters," Larsen said.
"It wasn’t too long ago that we were struggling to get 2,000 people at a game," Kindley added.
Gerry was one of the fans who got in on the ground floor.
"You know what I notice, when you’re at other games, even football, everybody’s on their phone," Gerry said. "You cannot look at your phone when you’re watching this game."
Gerry applauded the club for beating some of the best rugby players in the world to secure a consecutive championship.
"It’s the greatest thing in the world to see them win twice in a row, it’s so hard to do," Gerry said.
Could a three-peat be in the Free Jacks' future?
"I’m not sure they could do three, three would be amazing," said Gerry.
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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