Kyle Ciquera
| Date of birth | June 14th 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Bishop Hendricken | ||||||||||||||||||||
| University | St. Bonaventure University | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Kyle Ciquera is an American rugby union player. He plays at Prop for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Career
Amateur career
A native of Connecticut, Ciquera started playing Rugby during his first year at Bishop Hendricken High School. In 2014 he won the Massachusetts rugby championship and was named to the Massachusetts Select Team. He would then play at the colligente level attending St. Bonaventure. Where he would be named to the D1A All-Conference Rugby East first team 3 times.[1] As well as being named All American 3 times during his tenure.[2][3] He would also play for Mystic River Rugby Club.[4]
Pro career
Ciquera would join the New England free jacks in 2019. A product of the free jacks academy pathway.[5] He would be apart of the teams inaugural season during the 2020 MLR season resigning during the 2020 off season.[6] Over the next couple of seasons he would end up becoming a fan favorite among free jacks fans. During the 2023 season he would help the team win their first ever MLR championship. In 2024 he would make his 50th cap for the club on April 20 vs Seattle. Being the second player in team history to achieve the honor.[7] He would once again help the team win another MLR championship at the end of the season. In 2025 Ciiquera would score the game winning trie during the Eastern conference championship.[8]
Personal life
Ciquera played Ice Hockey growing up before eventually switching over to rugby. He has also been given the nickname the Eagle throughout his playing career.[9]
After winning the 2023 MLR championship Ciquera would get to thrown out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox's game in September 2023.[10]
In 2024 Ciquera and teammate Andrew Quattrin would shave their iconic mullets for charity.[11]
Honours
- New England Free Jacks
- Major League Rugby Championship: 3x (2023, 2024, 2025)
References
- ^ Kyle Ciquera St. Bonaventure page https://gobonnies.com/sports/mens-rugby/roster/kyle-ciquera/685
- ^ Two more years for Kyle Ciquera with Free Jacks https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/09/21/two-more-years-for-kyle-ciquera-with-free-jacks/
- ^ KYLE CIQUERA: ONE OF ONE https://freejacks.com/features/kyle-ciquera-one-of-one/
- ^ Kyle Ciquera USA rugby page https://www.americasrugbynews.com/player/kyle-ciquera/#google_vignette
- ^ Kyle Ciquera free jacks.com https://freejacks.com/team/kyle-ciquera/
- ^ Kyle Ciquera re-signs for New England Free Jacks https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/09/05/kyle-ciquera-re-signs-for-new-england-free-jacks/
- ^ EAGLE WEEK: CELEBRATING KYLE CIQUERA’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY TO 50 MLR & FREE JACKS CAPS https://freejacks.com/news/eagle-week-celebrating-kyle-ciqueras-remarkable-journey-to-50-mlr-free-jacks-caps/
- ^ https://all.rugby/player/kyle-ciquera
- ^ Free jacks in 5 https://youtube.com/kzuH-vCCDQc?si=GzzxkmCEt-SMF8bD
- ^ Free jacks Ciquera throws out the first pitch https://x.com/NEFreeJacks/status/1700310347788296253
- ^ FREE JACKS’ ANDREW QUATTRIN AND KYLE CIQUERA TO CUT THEIR ICONIC MULLETS FOR CHARITY https://freejacks.com/news/free-jacks-andrew-quattrin-and-kyle-ciquera-to-cut-their-iconic-mullets-for-charity/