BEVERLY, Mass. — Former Endicott men's rugby student-athlete Matthew Gash-Gilder (Kalispell, Mont.) became the second student-athlete in program history to go pro last week when the Dallas Jackals of Major League Rugby (MLR) traded for the flanker from the New England Free Jacks developmental team.

Gash-Gilder earned his way to the New England Free Jacks developmental squad after a successful stint with the Mystic River Rugby Club in 2021.

Prior to the Free Jacks, Gash-Gilder starred on the pitch for Endicott from 2017-21. 

Gash-Gilder was a multi All-American and All-Region selection for the program during that span. 

Gash-Gilder, who also was a team captain, led the Gulls to a 76-13 overall record, two Colonial Coast Rugby Conference (CCRC) Championships, one National Collegiate Rugby (NCR, formerly NSCRO) Championship, two nationals appearances, and the program's first-ever No. 1 national ranking.

He joins Jackson Thiebes M'18 (Manchester, Mass.) on the list of alumni to play professionally. Thiebes accomplished the feat in December of 2018 when he signed with the New England Free Jacks.

The Dallas Jackals are scheduled to play the Toronto Arrows tomorrow at 7 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Mike Connors)