Lasell University today announced a partnership with the New England Free Jacks, Boston's first professional rugby team. The collaboration will provide Lasell students with internships and career opportunities while players and staff will be offered discounted tuition rates for undergraduate and graduate level course work and professional development programs. The team will also have access to Lasell's fields and on campus facilities.

 The New England Free Jacks were named as an expansion franchise of Major League Rugby on September 20, 2018 and will compete in the 2020 MLR regular season.

"This is an exciting partnership that will provide meaningful professional experiences for Lasell students, while offering Major League Rugby players diverse learning opportunities on the Lasell campus and through our online programs," said Lasell Vice President for Graduate and Professional Studies, Eric Turner. "We are delighted to partner with the Free Jacks to launch this initiative which reflects our commitment to connected learning and our belief in the benefits of real-world experiences."  

Lasell's respected Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Sport Management, and Sports Communications curricula as well as its expanding graduate and professional certificate programs make the school an ideal fit for the Free Jacks.  

"We are very pleased to align our team with such an innovative institution," said Free Jacks CEO, Alex Magleby. "This collaboration will serve our team and Lasell students in ways that are real and long-lasting.  Lasell will provide us with a pipeline of talented students who will gain hands-on experiences as they explore careers in the business side of sports."  

Internships will be available to Lasell graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in a variety of sectors including marketing, business, communications and athletic training. Lasell students will have the opportunity to assist in all departments in the team's front office, as well as contribute to a number of special projects throughout the rugby season.   

Equally important, Lasell will offer all current Free Jack players and team personnel the opportunity to enroll in undergraduate and graduate courses, both on campus and online, in a range of disciplines including business administration, criminal justice, education, human resources, management, marketing, rehabilitation science, nutrition for human performance, and sport management.  

"This partnership gives team members as well as management and staff the chance to pursue undergraduate degrees, continue their education and enhance their professional skills while maintaining their association with the Free Jacks," said Magleby.