Former CWU rugby coach and alum hired as general manager of pro club

Former CWU men’s rugby coach and exercise science alumnus Todd Thornley has been hired as the general manager of the New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby (MLR).

The three-time defending MLR champions announced on their website last week that they had hired Thornley, who started with CWU as a graduate assistant and then coached the Wildcats for nine successful seasons before the program was discontinued in May 2025.

Thornley, who served as an assistant coach at UCLA in the fall, brings extensive coaching and playing experience with him to the Boston-based organization.

“This is a club with great people, strong ambition, and a real connection to its supporters from the ownership level all the way down,” he said. “I’m looking forward to connecting with the entire community, supporting the players and staff, and helping the New England Free Jacks continue to grow and compete at the highest level.” 

Originally from New Zealand, Thornley has spent the past 10-plus years working in collegiate, professional, and national team rugby in the United States. Aside from CWU and UCLA, he served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College and with the California Legion of MLR. He was also the head coach of the U-19 and U-23 U.S. national teams.

Thornley, a former F-1 international student who earned a master’s degree from CWU in 2016, posted an overall record of 84-38-2 during his time with the Wildcat men’s program. He helped more than a dozen former CWU players develop into professional rugby players, with many of them — including three top five picks in last year’s MLR draft — now leading their respective teams.

Outgoing Free Jacks GM Tom Kindley said he feels confident leaving the team in Thornley’s hands.

“Todd is a reflective, caring, and driven person and practitioner who has amassed amazing experience across the collegiate, pathway and professional landscapes,” he said.