Nate Brakeley

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Nate Brakeley
Date of birth (1989-08-31) August 31, 1989 (age 34)
Place of birthMarblehead, Massachusetts
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight260 lb (120 kg)
SchoolSt. John's Prep
UniversityDartmouth College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2012
2012
2013–2018		 Dartmouth College
Cambridge University
New York Athletic Club		  
 		  
 
Correct as of April 9, 2018
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2023 Rugby New York 42 (10)
Correct as of 6 March 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018
2016–2023		 USA Selects
United States		 3 
34		 (0) 
(5)
Correct as of 19 November 2023

Nate Brakeley (born August 31, 1989) is an American former professional rugby union player who played lock and flanker for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) of Major League Rugby (MLR) and for the United States men's national team. Brakeley also played for the New York Athletic Club.

Early life and education[edit]

Brakeley began playing rugby in high school, playing four years at St. John's Preparatory School.[1]

Brakeley went on to attend Dartmouth College, where he majored in engineering.[2] While there, Brakeley was a member of the Dartmouth Rugby team that won Collegiate Rugby Championships in 2011 and 2012.[3]

Brakeley also attended Cambridge University, where he earned an MPhil in energy technology.[4] While at Cambridge, Brakeley played for the Cambridge University rugby team and participated in the 2012 Varsity Match at Twickenham Stadium—a 26–19 defeat to Oxford.[4] After returning to the United States, Brakeley played for Cambridge's touring team for one match against the Men's Collegiate All-Americans.[5]

Club career[edit]

New York Athletic Club[edit]

After completing his studies at Cambridge and returning to the United States, Brakeley began playing club rugby for the New York Athletic Club in 2013.[6] He was a starter for the NYAC team that defeated the Austin Blacks 44-39 in the 2015 USA Rugby Men's Division I Club National Championship at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.[7]

Rugby New York[edit]

Brakeley joined Rugby United New York (RUNY) for their inaugural season as an associate member of Major League Rugby in 2018.[8] Brakeley started at lock in each of RUNY's three exhibitions against the Ontario Arrows and Boston Mystics in March 2018.[9][10][11] Brakeley maintained a full-time job as a data analyst while playing professionally in Major League Rugby.[12]

On June 19, 2022, Brakeley became the twenty-fifth MLR player to appear in 50 matches.[13] Brakeley captained New York to the franchise's first MLR championship in the 2022 final, a 30-15 victory against the Seattle Seawolves at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on June 25, 2022.[14]

International career[edit]

USA Selects[edit]

In September 2018, it was announced that Brakeley had been selected for the USA Selects roster for the 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge.[15]

USA Eagles[edit]

Brakeley made his debut with the USA Eagles on February 13, 2016, starting at flanker in the Eagles' 30–22 victory over Canada in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship.[16][17] Brakeley scored his first try for the Eagles in the Eagles' 52–16 victory over Canada on July 1, 2017, in a qualification match for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[18]

During the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Brakeley juggled Test matches and training sessions with the Eagles with a full-time remote job for a real estate technology company in New York.[19]

In his final test match, Brakeley captained the Eagles to victory in a 42-12 win over Spain in the final of La Vila International Rugby Cup.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Grenier, Mike (May 7, 2007). "Rugby flying high at the Prep in Danvers". Salem News. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Dartmouth First XV Players Rack Up Postseason Awards". Ivy Rugby Conference. May 23, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Parks, Brad. "Bash Brothers". Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Georgeson, Andrew (February 24, 2017). "American international Nate Brakeley hails his Cambridge University rugby education". Cambridge News. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  5. ^ DePlacido, Jean (February 24, 2018). "Jean DePacido column: Peabody alum Vieira excelling in weight throw at Worcester State". Salem News. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "Nate Brakeley Reaches 50 Caps". Major League Rugby. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Wise, Chad. "Seattle Saracens, NYAC win Emirates Airline Division I Club National Championships". USA Rugby. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "2018 Major League Rugby – Rugby United New York". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  9. ^ "New York win historic first match over Ontario". Americas Rugby News. March 17, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "New York blank Boston on historic night in the Bronx". Americas Rugby News. March 25, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "Strong second half leads New York past Boston". Americas Rugby News. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  12. ^ Strauss, Alix (July 2, 2021). "How a Professional Rugby Player Spends Sundays". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  13. ^ "Nate Brakeley Reaches 50 Caps". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Pengelly, Martin (June 25, 2022). "New York win Major League Rugby championship game against Seattle". The Guardian. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "USA Selects named for Americas Pacific Challenge". Americas Rugby News. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Clever Hat-Trick Seals win for Eagles". Americas Rugby News. February 14, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  17. ^ "United States of America v Canada at TX". espn.co.uk. ESPN. February 13, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  18. ^ "USA rout Canada, earn World Cup spot". Americas Rugby News. July 1, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  19. ^ "Work hard, play hard - USA's Brakeley juggles rugby with data job | Rugby World Cup". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  20. ^ "USA win La Vila International Rugby Cup". World Rugby. Retrieved November 20, 2023.


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