On Thursday, the New England Free Jacks were escorted out of Quincy, Massachusetts, by the city police. Rugby teams usually receive such treatment after too much post-match socialising but this was pre-game, the Major League Rugby champions heading for a flight to California to defend their title against Seattle Seawolves.
From a team practiced in the art of promoting itself and its sport, it was a nice bit of stagecraft ahead of Sunday’s championship game. Nic Benson, chief executive of MLR, was headed west too.
