NEW YORK, NY – With a flurry of activity in Contract Signing Department making headlines on the global rugby landscape, there’s one here in the Big Apple that is of particular significance; Nate Brakeley re-upping with Rugby United NY.
Brakeley is arguably, Major League Rugby’s “brightest” star. With one glance at his Linked In profile you see that he got his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Dartmouth before getting his Masters from Cambridge. Further, it lists him as a Senior Data Analyst for Compass, a real estate technology company.
Those are some pretty lofty credentials on their own but then there’s the rugby thing. This guy has managed to do all of the above while playing top-level rugby with NYAC before the MLR. School, work and… rugby.
In the process. the understated Brakeley earned his wings, becoming Team USA Eagle #469 and is now one of the most-reliable professionals in Major League Rugby.
There is no disputing his work rate. At 6’5″ and 255 (I’m guessing) very fit pounds, nobody has been at more breakdowns than Breakdown Brakeley (TM – don’t use it, Dallen). He was also tied for 1st in Minutes Played (400 in 5 matches), 3rd in Breakdown Steals and 5th in Lineout Takes. Further, when the pack was decimated with injuries, Nate moved from lock to blindside flanker.
RWU: Congrats on the new contract. Is it a double-edged sword, though, as it means you go back to having two full-time jobs, while technically being a part-time player?
NATE: Yeah, very excited to be back at RUNY next year. A couple full time jobs is nothing new – been more or less doing that since I got capped in 2016.
RWU: Did the pandemic make the decision to go for it again easier or more difficult?
NATE: The Pandemic just means I’ve had some extra time to get the body right and hit next season firing on all cylinders.
Getting back to the significance of the signing…
This is good for everyone… except maybe the New England Free Jacks, as Brakeley is from Massachusetts and has that Dartmouth connection with Majority Owner Errik Anderson and Co-Founder/Director of Rugby, Alex Magleby. Indeed, losing a player of Nate’s ilk to a traditionally heated sports rival would have been tough for Rooster Boosters to swallow, so this Rooster coming home to roost – wherever that may be – keeps a key component in place for the New Yorkers.
Head Coach Greg McWilliams had this to say,
“We are delighted that Nate has re-signed with RUNY. He epitomizes what we look for in a player and is a role model for high school and collegiate players. He’s diligent, hard-working and very trustworthy. He’s a big impact in our leadership group and he’s a very talented rugby player. We are looking forward to watching Nate to continue his development at RUNY and to have an impact both on and off the field.
Here’s Nate from an appearance on our weekly show:
More Major League Rugby…
Major League Chairman of the Board, Errik Anderson, offers insight and answers tough questions. Dan Power, Bryan Ray and Matt McCarthy hammer away re:
-Owners with multi-team ownership
-Ideal number of teams now and in the future
–Vancouver joining
-Dan Power’s Pat Mahomes crush
–Alex Magleby’s Zoom-bombing
–Salary Cap Skirting
Power, Ray & McCarthy also dive into:
–Andre Snyman’s MLR Snipes
–Super Rugby’s return to Australia
-Canceling the Americas Rugby Championship
–Argentina’s need to support Superliga Americana de Rugby (SLAR)
–USA Rugby furloughs of Coaches
PODCAST VERSION:
AND BE SURE TO SEE:
This one will go down as one of our favorites. A HUGE STAR as our Mystery Guest has Steve Lewis, Dan Power and Bryan Ray scrambling, scratching and faffing about. Yet, can they finally figure out who this storied rugby legend is?!
- Topics addressed:
–Beauden John Barrett to Japan
–Kangaroos v All Blacks: Cross-code Blasphemy?!
–Major League Rugby News
–Global Rugby Calendar Concerns
–Springboks Impact at home
PODCAST VERSION:
FINALLY…
The people that you get to meet in the rugby world are mostly all great – off the pitch, at least. And then there are those that you instantly want to hug and/or applaud. Detective Deltray “Tray” Belk is one of those people and that’s why he’s the focus of this Murphy Kennedy Group Community Corner segment. Please have a look/listen to this real-life Super Hero.
PODCAST VERSION:
Find All Here:
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